gag

A joke or playful trick meant to make people laugh.

• Everyone laughed at the gag.
• The film is full of clever visual gags.
• He gave her a rubber spider as a gag gift.

Similar words: joke, prank

Common phrases: visual gag, running gag, gag gift

Something put in or over someone’s mouth to stop them speaking or shouting.

• He removed the gag.
• The prisoner tried to speak through the cloth gag.
• They found her tied to a chair with a gag in her mouth.

Common phrases: remove a gag, cloth gag, gag in someone's mouth

An official rule that stops people from discussing a particular subject or case.

• The judge issued a gag order.
• The gag prevented reporters from naming the witness.
• The court lifted the gag after the trial ended.

How to use it: a gag on someone/something (The judge imposed a gag on discussion of the evidence.)

Similar words: speech ban, gag order

Common phrases: gag order, press gag, lift a gag

To react as if you are going to vomit, often because something touches your throat or disgusts you.

• The smell made me gag.
• He gagged as the doctor examined his throat.
• She started gagging after tasting the spoiled milk.

How to use it: gag on something (He gagged on a piece of dry bread.); gag at something (She gagged at the smell of rotten fish.)

Similar words: retch, heave

Common phrases: gag on something, gag at something, start to gag

To stop someone speaking publicly about something by using rules, orders, or threats.

• The government tried to gag the press.
• Staff were gagged by a strict confidentiality agreement.
• A court order gagged the witnesses until the trial was over.

Similar words: silence, censor

Common phrases: gag the press, gag someone's critics, gag an employee