to tag along
- phrasal verb
- /tæɡ əˈlɔŋ/
- Informal
- Do you mind if I tag along?
And yeah, we want you guys to tag along.
- And yeah, we want you guys to tag along.
- The other day I tagged along with Esther to go out dancing, get drinks, hang out with like her friends.
- Please tag along with us, feel comfortable, watch our videos.
- Here's a taster of what's in store for those who might not be able to tag along with the throng who belong in the wrong Ding Dong.
- And Matt was kind enough to kind of let me tag along with him through his conversations with these people because I was new fight at the very least.
Examples
-
Mind if I tag along?
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I think I'll tag along.
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I, uh, I hope it's cool if I tag along.
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At least I let you tag along.
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But if you want to tag along knowing all that, you can.
Fiction book (1995) -
I'm always here to tag along when you play a game.
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If you don't mind, I'd love to tag along.
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She's very cool and wanted to tag along, so she's coming with us.
-
I walked quickly back to the rooming house, TJ tagging along beside me.
Fiction book (1994) -
Do you mind if I tag along to the concert with you?
Synonyms
To go somewhere with someone as a companion
Spend time with someone so they are not alone
To meet another person or group briefly and informally
Antonyms
How Intrusive
- Offensive
- Informal
Surface Forms
Morphology
tag + along
The particle 'along' clearly contributes the sense 'together/with', and 'tag' can evoke attaching or following, so a learner who knows the constituents will get a general idea of accompanying someone. However, the precise pragmatic nuance (informal accompaniment, possibly uninvited) and the verbized figurative use of 'tag' are not fully predictable without exposure, making it only partially transparent.
Etymology
The phrasal verb tag along may come from the picture of a small tag or label stuck to someone and going along with them, like something that follows wherever the person moves. That's why it means 'to go with someone' often without being invited.