I. nag 1 /næɡ/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle nagged , present participle nagging ) [intransitive and transitive]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Origin: Probably from a Scandinavian language ]
1 . to keep asking someone to do something, or to keep complaining to someone about their behaviour, in an annoying way ⇨ pester :
I wish you’d stop nagging!
nag somebody to do something
Nadia’s been nagging me to fix the lamp.
nag somebody about something
She keeps nagging me about my weight.
nag at
He’s always nagging at Paula for wearing too much makeup.
2 . to make someone feel continuously worried or uncomfortable
nag at
a problem that had been nagging at him for days
One question still nagged me.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ to ask for something
▪ ask for to tell someone you want them to give you something:
I’m going to ask for a pay rise.
▪ order to ask for food or drink in a restaurant:
We ordered some more coffee.
|
Have you ordered yet?
▪ demand to ask for something in a firm way, insisting that someone gives you what you ask for:
They’re demanding immediate payment.
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If the goods are faulty, you can demand a refund.
▪ request formal to ask for something:
The pilot requested permission to land.
|
I enclose the information you requested.
▪ beg/plead to ask for something in an urgent way, because you want it very much and will be very unhappy if you do not get it:
He begged me for some money.
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I’m not going to plead for forgiveness.
▪ nag/pester to keep asking someone for something, in an annoying way:
She keeps nagging me for a new phone.
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People were pestering him for his autograph.
II. nag 2 BrE AmE noun [countable] informal
[ Sense 1: Date: 1800-1900 ; Origin: ⇨ ↑ nag 1 ]
[ Sense 2: Date: 1400-1500 ; Origin: Origin unknown ]
1 . a person who keeps complaining or asking someone to do something, in an annoying way:
Don’t be such a nag!
2 . old-fashioned a horse, especially one that is old or in bad condition