Wagging the Dogs

Somewhere in Europe ...

"Gut evening, Class!"

"Gut evening, Herr Professor!"

"OK, ok ... vat shall ve discuss tonight? Any suggestions? Yes, Alex?"

"Er, vot is dis WAG I alvays see in der Englischer zeitung ever oder day?"

"Nicht Englischer zeitung, Alex - it is "English newspaper", okay? Sehr gut ... everyvun, open up your dictionaries and look up der vord "wag". Brunhilde, read der first part loudly."

wag /wæg/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[wag] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation verb, wagged, wag·ging, noun –verb (used with object)

1.	to move from side to side, forward and backward, or up and down, esp. rapidly and repeatedly: a dog wagging its tail.

2.	to move (the tongue), as in idle or indiscreet chatter.

3.	to shake (a finger) at someone, as in reproach.

4.	to move or nod (the head).

" Okay class - from dat ve can understand a few things about a WAG. Helmut, tell us vun think from dat!"

" Ja, OK ... er, ah, a WAG is alvays a dog."

"Hmm ... not alvays but close enuff. Next ... Bruno?"

"Sir, vhen "used with object" ... der WAG, they move their tongues."

"Gut - Celine?"

"Er, they use one single finger as signal vhen they are angry?"

"Wunderbar! Gut meaning of "reproach"! Alex, you now ..."

"Meister, vhen "used with object", like Bruno say ... der head is moved in a nodding fashion."

"Und nodding is ... ?"

"Moving der head up und down, Herr Professor!"

"Correct! Now ve move on to der second part. Martha ... read it!"

–verb (used without object)

5.	to be moved from side to side or one way and the other, esp. rapidly and repeatedly, as the head or the tail.

6.	to move constantly, esp. in idle or indiscreet chatter: Her behavior caused local tongues to wag.

7.	to get along; travel; proceed: Let the world wag how it will.

8.	to totter or sway.

9.	British Slang. to play truant; play hooky.

"Gut! Michelle ... ?"

"Professor, it means ven ve take avay der object, der WAG, her head is moved from side to side?"

"Ja, ja ... but moved how? It's dere ..."

"Oh ja, der head - she moves rapidly und repeatedly ... er, schnell, ja? - und der same vith its tail also."

"Professor! Einen moment, bitte!"

"Sprechen English, dummkopf! Yes, vat is it, Bruno?"

"I cannot unnerstand vat Michelle is saying. Can she show vot she means?"

"Michelle? Ve haf Bruno playing der idiot. Do you mind showing vot you mean? Moving your head und tail at der same time? "

"Nein, Professor. No problem."

Pindrop silence among the men as Michelle worked her demo. Brunhilda and Martha giggles.

The Professor closes his gaping mouth.

"Ach, ja ... danke schon. Dat is enuff ... ah -"

The clock chimed the hour.

"Ah, ve haf finished. Ve vill continue dis. Thank you, class. See you tomorrow evening."

"Thank you, Professor"

"Ah, Michelle ... may I walk you to the hauptbahnhof?"