# rag

/ˈɹæɡ/ (US) · /ɹˈæɡ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rag
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. cleaning cloth

noun · CEFR B1

a small piece of old, torn cloth used for cleaning or drying things.

For teachers: a fragment of cloth, typically discarded or repurposed for utilitarian tasks such as cleaning or polishing.

- He used an old rag to wipe the oil off his hands after fixing the bike.
- The mechanic kept a pile of oily rags in the corner of the garage to clean his tools after each repair.

### 2. tattered clothes

noun · CEFR B2

old, torn, or dirty clothes.

For teachers: clothing that is torn, frayed, or in a state of extreme disrepair; often used in the plural.

- The lost hiker was found wearing nothing but rags after a week in the woods.
- The protagonist's journey from rags to riches is a classic theme in nineteenth-century literature.

### 3. bad newspaper

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a newspaper or magazine that you think is low quality or dishonest.

For teachers: a derogatory term for a newspaper or periodical, implying poor journalistic standards or sensationalism.

- I don't know why you read that local rag; it's full of gossip and lies.
- The politician refused to grant an interview to the local rag, citing their history of biased reporting.

### 5. student charity event

noun · CEFR C1 · British English

a period of time when university students do funny or noisy things to collect money for charity.

For teachers: an organised series of events, often involving pranks or parades, conducted by university students to raise funds for charitable causes.

- The students dressed up as superheroes for the annual rag week parade.
- During the university rag, students occupied the town square to solicit donations for the local children's hospital.

### 6. to tease

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to tease someone or make fun of them in a playful or mean way.

For teachers: to subject someone to persistent teasing, mockery, or practical jokes.

- The older boys used to rag him about his glasses until he learned to ignore them.
- The senior officers would often rag the new recruits, though the practice was officially discouraged by the academy.

### 7. to drive hard

verb · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang

to drive a car very fast and roughly without caring if you damage it.

For teachers: to operate a vehicle at high speed or with excessive aggression, showing no regard for mechanical preservation.

- He really ragged that old van until the engine finally gave up.
- It was clear the previous owner had ragged the car on track days, given the state of the suspension and brakes.

## Examples

- Use a dry rag to wipe the table.
- She grabbed an old rag to clean the grease off the kitchen counter.
- The mechanic wiped his hands on a greasy rag before handing over the repaired engine part.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.