← Back to search

Meaning of the tail wags the dog | Babel Free

Phrase CEFR C2

Definitions

A minor or secondary part of something is controlling or dominating the whole or the main part.

Examples

“This is classic for all non-profit agencies: the tail wags the dog. If you have a foundation willing to fund a particular kind of program, then an organization will write that kind of grant. Suddenly, you're doing a program to where the bucks are. Maybe that's not within the original mission of the mission.”

CEFR level

C2

Mastery
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.

See also

the terrorists will have won the thick plottens the thing is the time has come the toilet is clogged the tongue wounds more than a lance