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Glite Dictionary
to tag on

to tag on

2 3.4
To add something extra at the end
  • phrasal verb
  • /tæɡ ɑn/
  • Informal
translation icon : añadir
  • When the agent tried to put a tag on it, he pulled away and insisted on putting it on himself.
  • put a tag on

Examples

  • Many students choose to tag on a few extra points to their assignments to improve their grades.

  • What about a special tag on all of his comments?

    Blog text (13)

  • Incorporate the title tag on all pages for your site, thereby linking them all together.

    Blog text (13)

  • "A lot of employers, for example, will undertake an annual staff satisfaction survey, so why not tag on a health risk appraisal?

    Academic text (2010)

  • Occasionally, when I'm boarding a tiny "puddlejumper" plane, the airline will ask to put a tag on the bag and then return it to me at the top of the ramp when we arrive.

    Blog text (13)

  • She decided to tag on a note to the invitation explaining the dress code.

  • The chef opted to tag on a special dessert to the menu for the holiday season.

Synonyms

to add
vsto tag on
∞ 1.0

Include something extra to make something larger or better

narrows this to attaching extras often as an afterthought rather than general increase
to throw in
vsto tag on
  • Informal
97 2.7

Add something extra for free

focuses on attaching extras regardless of payment or promotional intent
to put on
vsto tag on
34 1.7

To add something to a building to make it larger

stresses adding extras usually as an afterthought rather than planned extension
to tack on
vsto tag on
19 4.1

Add something extra that was not planned

focuses on attaching or adding extras, not always hurried or improvised
to add on
vsto tag on
9 3.2

To attach something extra to what already exists

highlights adding extras often as an afterthought rather than routine addition
to append
vsto tag on
7 4.6

To add something to the end of a document or list

is broader, covering attaching extras in many contexts beyond documents

Antonyms

to detach
16 3.9

To take something off from what it is connected to

How Added

to tack on
19 4.1
to tag on
  • Informal
2 3.4
to append
7 4.6
to attach
459 2.5

Surface Forms

tag on infinitive
tagged on past
tagged on past participle
tagging on present participle
tags on third person singular

Morphology

tag + on

The meaning 'to attach or add something' is directly derivable from 'tag' (to attach a label) combined with the particle 'on' (onto/added to), following a common English verb+particle composition. This pattern is literal and cross-linguistically familiar, so an average B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Tag on comes from the image of sticking a tag onto an item or adding a small note on after the main part is done. So to tag on means 'to attach or add something', usually 'as an extra'.