Gag
verb
To stop someone from speaking by putting something in or over the person's mouth.
The kidnappers gagged the hostage to prevent him from shouting for help.
Often appears as...
- gag someone
- gag with a cloth
verb
To feel or cause to feel sick.
The unpleasant smell in the room made him gag.
Often appears as...
- gag on something
- strong enough to gag a horse
noun
A joke or an amusing story or scene, often in a film or show.
The film is full of visual gags.
Often appears as...
- running gag
- visual gag
noun
A piece of cloth put into or over a person's mouth to prevent them from speaking or shouting.
The captives had gags in their mouths.
Often appears as...
- remove the gag
- tie a gag
verb
To prevent from speaking or expressing oneself freely.
The government gagged the press by imposing strict censorship laws.
Often appears as...
- gag the press
- gag order
Usage tips
Formal
Legal, Political
noun
A command or act that stops someone from speaking or writing in a free or open way.
They put a gag on news reports about the incident.
Often appears as...
- impose a gag
- lift the gag
Usage tips
Legal, Political
verb
To stop someone from speaking by putting something in or over the person's mouth.
The kidnappers gagged the hostage to prevent him from shouting for help.
Often appears as...
- gag someone
- gag with a cloth
verb
To feel or cause to feel sick.
The unpleasant smell in the room made him gag.
Often appears as...
- gag on something
- strong enough to gag a horse
noun
A joke or an amusing story or scene, often in a film or show.
The film is full of visual gags.
Often appears as...
- running gag
- visual gag
noun
A piece of cloth put into or over a person's mouth to prevent them from speaking or shouting.
The captives had gags in their mouths.
Often appears as...
- remove the gag
- tie a gag
verb
To prevent from speaking or expressing oneself freely.
The government gagged the press by imposing strict censorship laws.
Often appears as...
- gag the press
- gag order
Usage tips
Formal
Legal, Political
noun
A command or act that stops someone from speaking or writing in a free or open way.
They put a gag on news reports about the incident.
Often appears as...
- impose a gag
- lift the gag
Usage tips
Legal, Political
Definition 1 of 6
Pro Tip 1/2Silencing by Force
Used to describe scenarios that involve forcibly silencing someone, often in criminal contexts.
During the heist, the burglars gagged the guards.
Pro Tip 2/2Not Literal
'Gag' can also be used metaphorically to mean prevent speaking, not just physically.
The company's policy effectively gagged employees from discussing wages.
Compare with
hushmutemuzzlequashsilencesquelchstiflesuppress
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Video examples
Heribert Watzke: The...
and very importantly by mechanical means, because it has to move the food -- it has to mix all the various elements which we need for digestion. This control of muscle is very, very important, because, you know, there can be reflexes. If you don't like a food, especially if you're a child, you gag.
Video examples
Patrolling Alaska PIPE...
here and turn around and leave we don't do that you know we go out we dig into it a lot of times these big game violations they're maggot infested they're extremely nasty they'll gag the best of us but troopers don't have to patrol the wilderness to come in contact with Alaska's wildlife
Video examples
The strange politics of...
discuss him a bunch of times here's my favorite he evolved around clip shipment sex or attached to deep-rooted emotions and reactions that are hard to jettison overnight so my favorite part of this clip is that that Professor Dawkins actually gagged hijos back in he gags
Video examples
The world’s most...
For most humans, farts are a welcome relief, an embarrassing incident, or an opportunity for a gas-based gag. But for many other creatures, farts are no laughing matter. Deep in the bowels of the animal kingdom, farts can serve as tools of intimidation,
Video examples
Every shirt has a story...
a gag gift little could they have known how this would actually change my life fundamentally at that point if you'd met me in the hallway of any institution any University you would have met a young buff grad student who was wearing
Video examples
The strange politics of...
are attached to deep-rooted emotions and reactions that are hard to jettison overnight." David So my favorite part of this clip is that Professor Dawkins actually gagged. He jumps back, and he gags, and we had to do it three times,
Video examples
A Cult in Court PIPE...
both girls got on the stand and I said did he touch you anywhere on your body if you were wearing a bikini that would have been covered by the bikini and the girls said no the jury retires to deliberate its verdict a gag order has
Video examples
Claire Malone: The...
as something to be embraced, pepper this talk with jokes and gags, sometimes at the poor communication aid's expense, and hopefully make you laugh and keep you engaged with what I want to tell you about.
Video examples
How porn changes the way...
And it was complicated, because there is an industry that is capitalizing off of audience's fascination with seeing women, in particular, not just having sex, but being chocked, gagged, slapped,
Video examples
Fined for Turtle Egg...
what this pregnant God speak I gag anyway everything feel really sad because I don't feel angry at him at all it's a really poor guy and he's got a
Video examples
Heribert Watzke: The...
and very importantly by mechanical means, because it has to move the food -- it has to mix all the various elements which we need for digestion. This control of muscle is very, very important, because, you know, there can be reflexes. If you don't like a food, especially if you're a child, you gag.
Video examples
Patrolling Alaska PIPE...
here and turn around and leave we don't do that you know we go out we dig into it a lot of times these big game violations they're maggot infested they're extremely nasty they'll gag the best of us but troopers don't have to patrol the wilderness to come in contact with Alaska's wildlife
Video examples
The strange politics of...
discuss him a bunch of times here's my favorite he evolved around clip shipment sex or attached to deep-rooted emotions and reactions that are hard to jettison overnight so my favorite part of this clip is that that Professor Dawkins actually gagged hijos back in he gags
Video examples
The world’s most...
For most humans, farts are a welcome relief, an embarrassing incident, or an opportunity for a gas-based gag. But for many other creatures, farts are no laughing matter. Deep in the bowels of the animal kingdom, farts can serve as tools of intimidation,
Video examples
Every shirt has a story...
a gag gift little could they have known how this would actually change my life fundamentally at that point if you'd met me in the hallway of any institution any University you would have met a young buff grad student who was wearing
Video examples
The strange politics of...
are attached to deep-rooted emotions and reactions that are hard to jettison overnight." David So my favorite part of this clip is that Professor Dawkins actually gagged. He jumps back, and he gags, and we had to do it three times,
Video examples
A Cult in Court PIPE...
both girls got on the stand and I said did he touch you anywhere on your body if you were wearing a bikini that would have been covered by the bikini and the girls said no the jury retires to deliberate its verdict a gag order has
Video examples
Claire Malone: The...
as something to be embraced, pepper this talk with jokes and gags, sometimes at the poor communication aid's expense, and hopefully make you laugh and keep you engaged with what I want to tell you about.
Video examples
How porn changes the way...
And it was complicated, because there is an industry that is capitalizing off of audience's fascination with seeing women, in particular, not just having sex, but being chocked, gagged, slapped,
Video examples
Fined for Turtle Egg...
what this pregnant God speak I gag anyway everything feel really sad because I don't feel angry at him at all it's a really poor guy and he's got a
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Sarah Harrison
British Journalist
When whistleblowers come forward, we need to fight for them, so others will be encouraged. When they are gagged, we must be their voice. When they are hunted, we must be their shield. When they are locked away, we must free them. Giving us the truth is not a crime. This is our data, our information, our history. We must fight to own it.
Quote examples
Jeff Kinney
American Writer
I'm not good at narrative; I'm really a gag writer, and that comes from being in the newspaper comic strip world for a while in college. What I do is I just write tons of jokes, then I sort them out in terms of quality and then pick the best of the jokes and then try to form them into a plot. If I get a good theme going, I feel lucky.
Quote examples
Kevin Bacon
American Actor
Animal House' was my first movie, so I didn't have anything to compare it to. I was a sight gag more than anything else. So I can't say it was one of those things where your life changes. When the movie came out, I had to ask for the night off at the bar.
Quote examples
Bill Plympton
American Artist
Being a talented artist is good, it's nice, but it's not the most important thing. I think being a good storyteller, having a good idea, a good gag, is probably more important than being a great artist.
Quote examples
Alexei Sayle
British Comedian
A lot of those comics can't hold down relationships and they've got no other life apart from performing. They sleep in their Jags and a lot of them can't even talk. All they can do is tell gags.
Quote examples
Brett Gelman
American Actor
Comedy is all about the character. When you're too focused on the gags, the character suffers, and you don't get the laugh. Comedy has to come from the character.
Quote examples
Jonathan Banks
American Actor
I honestly do feel - and I hope I don't gag anybody if they read this - but I feel like I'm one of the luckiest people in the world.
Quote examples
Akira Toriyama
Japanese Artist
If you're doing gags, I think it's important to have characters who are as strong-willed and impactful as possible.
Quote examples
Jim Davis
American Cartoonist
My dream in life is to write the one gag that makes everyone in the world laugh.
Quote examples
Robert Englund
American Actor
The modern horror audience is wise to our tricks this lets it in on the gag.
Quote examples
Sarah Harrison
British Journalist
When whistleblowers come forward, we need to fight for them, so others will be encouraged. When they are gagged, we must be their voice. When they are hunted, we must be their shield. When they are locked away, we must free them. Giving us the truth is not a crime. This is our data, our information, our history. We must fight to own it.
Quote examples
Jeff Kinney
American Writer
I'm not good at narrative; I'm really a gag writer, and that comes from being in the newspaper comic strip world for a while in college. What I do is I just write tons of jokes, then I sort them out in terms of quality and then pick the best of the jokes and then try to form them into a plot. If I get a good theme going, I feel lucky.
Quote examples
Kevin Bacon
American Actor
Animal House' was my first movie, so I didn't have anything to compare it to. I was a sight gag more than anything else. So I can't say it was one of those things where your life changes. When the movie came out, I had to ask for the night off at the bar.
Quote examples
Bill Plympton
American Artist
Being a talented artist is good, it's nice, but it's not the most important thing. I think being a good storyteller, having a good idea, a good gag, is probably more important than being a great artist.
Quote examples
Alexei Sayle
British Comedian
A lot of those comics can't hold down relationships and they've got no other life apart from performing. They sleep in their Jags and a lot of them can't even talk. All they can do is tell gags.
Quote examples
Brett Gelman
American Actor
Comedy is all about the character. When you're too focused on the gags, the character suffers, and you don't get the laugh. Comedy has to come from the character.
Quote examples
Jonathan Banks
American Actor
I honestly do feel - and I hope I don't gag anybody if they read this - but I feel like I'm one of the luckiest people in the world.
Quote examples
Akira Toriyama
Japanese Artist
If you're doing gags, I think it's important to have characters who are as strong-willed and impactful as possible.
Quote examples
Jim Davis
American Cartoonist
My dream in life is to write the one gag that makes everyone in the world laugh.
Quote examples
Robert Englund
American Actor
The modern horror audience is wise to our tricks this lets it in on the gag.
Example 1 of 10
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