Posted by ESC on July 14, 2006
In Reply to: Playing the rag game posted by Jonathan on July 14, 2006
: Where did the phrase "playing the rag game" and similar phrases using the word rag or ragging come from and why the use of that word.
That's a good question. And I don't have the answer. There's a Brit phrase -- losing your rag. See http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/11/messages/569.html
Then there's a cowboy game of taking the rag off the bush. And, of course, on the rag.