From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishnagnag1 /næɡ/ verb (nagged, nagging) [intransitive, transitive] 1 COMPLAINANNOYto 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.► see thesaurus at ask2 WORRIEDto make someone feel continuously worried or uncomfortablenag at a problem that had been nagging at him for days One question still nagged me.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
nag• One thing the young unemployed need most of all is adults' help, not nagging.• Children begin to expect nagging and frequent reminders, sarcasm, and threats.• You know, you get tired of being nagged and looked down on.• Jane's boss nags at her all the time.• There was something nagging at him.• Yet in the age of unprecedented environmental destruction an awkward question nags at us.• Ben never picks up his dirty clothes, but nagging doesn't help.• Inside, the thought of food immediately nagged her.• Oh, stop nagging - I'll do it later.• Roberts' poor physical condition combined with nagging injuries prevented him from playing more than 51 games in the past four seasons.• He aggravated a nagging left shoulder injury and left the ice during the third period.• My mom's always nagging me about my room.• My children are always nagging me to get new videos.• I wish you'd stop nagging me.• Look, I don't want to keep nagging you, but would you please take your stuff out of the living room?nag somebody to do something• My family's been nagging me for years to write down my recipes.nagnag2 noun [countable] informal 1 COMPLAINa person who keeps complaining or asking someone to do something, in an annoying way Don’t be such a nag!2 HBADSH old-fashioned a horse, especially one that is old or in bad conditionExamples from the Corpus
nag• I don't want to be a nag but do you have that ten bucks you owe me?• Now comes a nag to keep it safe.• Imperious, you mount a nag of thirty hands and trample me into the ground.• For the next race he suggested a nag called My Delight.• I don't know how you put up with Claire's constant nagging.• Blast Tom and blast all his nags.• I do know she was the subtlest of nags.• Two old nags dragged a cart filled with hay.• Sammy bounded on ahead and gave a loud bark at the nag.• So vivid was his description that I suggested the only kindness would be to put the nag down before the race.• On Saturday, he planned a rally amongst the party faithful in his constituency to wave the nag.Origin nag1 (1800-1900) Probably from a Scandinavian language nag2 1. (1800-1900) → NAG12. (1400-1500) Origin unknown 