peg
a pin of wood or other material driven or fitted into something, as to fasten parts together, to hang things on, to make fast a rope or string on, to stop a hole, or to mark some point.
Informal. a leg, either real or wooden: still on his pegs at 99.
a notch or degree: to come down a peg.
an occasion, basis, or reason: a peg to hang a grievance on.
Also pin .Music. a pin of wood or metal in the neck of a stringed instrument that may be turned in its socket to adjust a string's tension.
Informal. a throw, especially in baseball: The peg to the plate was late.
Economics. the level at which some price, exchange rate, etc., is set.
British, Indian English. an alcoholic drink, especially a whiskey or brandy and soda.
British. clothespin.
to drive or insert a peg into.
to fasten with or as with pegs.
to mark with pegs.
to strike or pierce with or as with a peg.
to keep (the commodity price, exchange rate, etc.) at a set level, as by manipulation or law.
Informal. to throw (a ball).
Journalism. to base (an article, feature story, etc.) upon; justify by (usually followed by on): The feature on the chief of police was pegged on the riots.
Informal. to identify: to peg someone as a good prospect.
to work or continue persistently or energetically: to peg away at a homework assignment.
Informal. to throw a ball.
Croquet. to strike a peg, as in completing a game.
Also pegged. tapered toward the bottom of the leg: peg trousers.
Idioms about peg
Origin of peg
1Other words from peg
- peg·less, adjective
- peg·like, adjective
- re·peg, verb, re·pegged, re·peg·ging.
Other definitions for Peg (2 of 2)
a female given name, form of Peggy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
British Dictionary definitions for peg
/ (pɛɡ) /
a small cylindrical pin or dowel, sometimes slightly tapered, used to join two parts together
a pin pushed or driven into a surface: used to mark scores, define limits, support coats, etc
music any of several pins passing through the head (peg box) of a stringed instrument, which can be turned so as to tune strings wound around them: See also pin (def. 11)
Also called: clothes peg British a split or hinged pin for fastening wet clothes to a line to dry: US and Canadian equivalent: clothespin
informal a person's leg
Northern English dialect a tooth
British a small drink of wine or spirits, esp of brandy or whisky and soda
an opportunity or pretext for doing something: a peg on which to hang a theory
a mountaineering piton
croquet a post that a player's ball must strike to win the game
angling a fishing station allotted to an angler in a competition, marked by a peg in the ground
informal a level of self-esteem, importance, etc (esp in the phrases bring or take down a peg)
informal See peg leg
off the peg mainly British (of clothes) ready to wear, as opposed to tailor-made
(tr) to knock or insert a peg into or pierce with a peg
(tr sometimes foll by down) to secure with pegs: to peg a tent
mountaineering to insert or use pitons
(tr) to mark (a score) with pegs, as in some card games
(tr) informal to aim and throw (missiles) at a target
(intr; foll by away, along, etc) mainly British to work steadily: he pegged away at his job for years
(tr) to stabilize (the price of a commodity, an exchange rate, etc) by legislation or market operations
Origin of peg
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with peg
In addition to the idiom beginning with peg
- peg away at
also see:
- square peg in a round hole
- take down a notch (peg)
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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