How to Pronounce "the tail wagging the dog"
expression
thuh TAIL WAG-ing thuh DAWG
thuh TAIL WAG-ing thuh DOG
Definition
A situation where a small or less important part is controlling the whole, instead of the other way around.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈteɪɫ/ /ˈwæɡɪŋ/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈdɔɡ
British English
ðə, ði/ /tˈeɪl/ /wˈæɡɪŋ/ /ðə, ði/ /dˈɒɡ
Simplified Pronunciation
US
thuh TAIL WAG-ing thuh DAWG
UK
thuh TAIL WAG-ing thuh DOG
Listen in Context
The manager lets the intern make all the decisions—it's the tail wagging the dog.
If the marketing team controls the whole company, that's the tail wagging the dog.
When my kids decide what we eat every night, that's the tail wagging the dog.
Honestly, letting one angry customer change our whole policy feels like the tail wagging the dog.