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wag the dog

To divert negative political attention by use of a military operation.

Etymology:

  • From tail wagging the dog. The shortened form with the political sense was popularized by the film Wag the Dog.
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Submitted on July 10, 2018

Translation

Find a translation for the wag the dog phrase in other languages:

mover la cola

mener le chien

scodinzolare il cane

개 죽이기.

abanar o cachorro

clătina câinele

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to wag the dog

she would rip a dog off a gut wagonsick as a dogYou Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricksyellow dogwhat's up dogtop dogSick as a Dogtail wagging the dogyellow dogsee a man about a dogsea dogred doguntil the last dog is hungwhat dog

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