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Glite Dictionary
to gag for it

to gag for it

1 9.9
To want something very much
  • phrasal verb
  • /ɡæɡ fɔːr ɪt/
  • Slang
translation icon : morir por
  • She is gagging for it every time her favorite band announces a concert.

Examples

  • I am gagging for it.

    Mission: Impossible II (2000)

  • I'm really gagging for it after that workout; a burger would be perfect right now.

  • I'm gagging for it, hot shot

    Chromophobia (2006)

  • The year I was a contestant, everyone just was really gagging for it because no more drink.

  • He's gagging for it since he hasn't had his favorite dessert in weeks.

Synonyms

to desire
vsto gag for it
446 1.6

To want something very much

is an informal eager expression used in everyday speech
to drool
vsto gag for it
  • Informal
46 6.3

To want something very much and show it on your face

means strong wanting but not necessarily shown outwardly
to kill for
vsto gag for it
  • Informal
41 7.3

To want something very much

is similar but shows desire with less forced emphasis
to salivate
vsto gag for it
  • Informal
11 6.1

To feel very eager or excited about something

is about wanting strongly without the intense excited anticipation

Antonyms

indifference
71 4.6

Lack of interest or concern about something

disinterest
5 5.8

Not feeling interested in something, like a talk or task

How Eager

to yearn
92 4.9
to gag for it
  • Slang
1 9.9
to want
∞ 1.0
to fancy
  • UK
54 3.2

Surface Forms

gag for it infinitive
gagged for it past
gagged for it past participle
gagging for it present participle
gags for it third person singular

Morphology

gag + for + it

The idiomatic British slang meaning 'to want something very strongly' cannot be derived from the literal senses of 'gag' (normally 'to retch' or 'choke'), 'for', and 'it'; there is no transparent compositional relation that yields desire. This colloquial/slang use is language- and variety-specific and therefore unpredictable for a B1 learner who only knows the constituent words.

Etymology

The idiom gag for it may come from the image of someone almost choking: the verb gag means to choke or retch, so it looks like a person is so eager they can hardly breathe. So, gag for it now means 'to want something very strongly'.