on the rag
Appearance
English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From rag as a slang term for a menstrual pad. First use appears c. 1967. See cite below.
Pronunciation
[edit]Audio (General Australian): (file)
Prepositional phrase
[edit]- (idiomatic, vulgar, slang, sometimes euphemistic) Menstruating.
- Synonym: on one's period
- 1974, Stephen King, Carrie, page 14:
- She herself had begun menstruation shortly after her eleventh birthday and had gone to the head of the stairs to yell down excitedly: "Hey, Mum, I'm on the rag!"
- 1983, The Big Chill:
- Harold: How is Sarah? I don't want to jump her while she's on the rag.
- (idiomatic, derogatory, by extension) In a bad mood; angry or irritable.
- 1967, University of South Dakota, English Dept, Current Slang, Volumes 2-5, page 5:
- On the rag, in a bad mood.—College males, Arizona. I had a lousy time last night because she was on the rag.