tail wagging the dog

English

Etymology

First used in the 1858 play Our American Cousin. The shortened form wag the dog, with a political sense, was popularized by the film Wag the Dog (1997). For the verb phrase, see the tail wags the dog.

Pronunciation

• Audio (Australia):

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Noun

tail wagging the dog

1. (idiomatic) A minor or secondary part of something which is controlling or dominating the whole or the main part.

Derived terms

• wag the dog

Translations

Translations

• Bulgarian: please add this translation if you can
• Finnish: häntä heiluttaa koiraa
• Georgian: კუდი, რომელიც ძაღლს აქიცინებს (ḳudi, romelic ʒaɣls akicinebs)

See also

• put the cart before the horse