the tail wagging the dog

idiom

informal
used to describe a situation in which an important or powerful person, organization, etc., is being controlled by someone or something that is much less important or powerful

Dictionary Entries Near the tail wagging the dog

Cite this Entry

“The tail wagging the dog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20tail%20wagging%20the%20dog. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!