Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

wag a finger

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.01 in modern English

Syllables: wag a fin-ger
IPA

18

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To express one's annoyance with, or disapproval of, someone's actions.

Example Sentences

"“Edge of the Edge” pairs a playful sample of the doo-wop group Randy & the Rainbows’ 1963 hit “Denise” with Panda’s serenely melodic vocals, which cut through the carefree, pop-psychedelic vibe with some light social critique: “Can’t say it’s what you bargained for,” he sings, wagging a finger at the frenzied escalation of technology, “It’s forever at the push of a button.”"
"In reality Infantino has presided over a World Cup staged in a repressive state that has feasted on those who built its palaces, and has barely wagged a finger at Iran’s regime in the lead up to their appearance here."

Inflected Forms

wags a finger (present, singular) wagging a finger (participle, present) wagged a finger (participle, past) wagged a finger (past) wag one's finger (alternative)

Phrases

finger-wag

Frequently Paired Words

finger-wag

Questions

What does wag a finger mean?: To express one's annoyance with, or disapproval of, someone's actions.

How to pronounce wag a finger

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “wag a finger”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “wag a finger”.
Repeat and practice — Say “wag a finger” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.