wag the dog
The phrase "wag the dog" originates from the idea that a tail should not control the dog, symbolizing situations where the less significant controls the more significant.
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Definition
B2General
(idiomatic)When a less important or powerful element controls or influences a more important or powerful one.
Example
- In this company, it's the marketing team that wags the dog, not the executives.
C1Politics
(idiomatic)To distract the public from a significant issue by focusing on a less important one, often through orchestrated events.
Example
- The government was accused of trying to wag the dog by launching a military strike to divert attention from the scandal.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "wag the dog":