Meanings
From tail wagging the dog. The shortened form with the political sense was popularized by the film Wag the Dog (1997).
How to pronounce "wag the dog":
AU
To divert negative political attention by use of a military operation.
Example Sentences
1
The government is accused of trying to wag the dog by starting a conflict to distract from its own scandals.
2
The politician attempted to wag the dog by highlighting a minor issue to overshadow a major policy announcement.
3
The news media was criticized for using sensational stories to wag the dog and divert attention from important issues.
4
The mayor's decision to cut funding for schools is clearly an attempt to wag the dog and shift blame onto other factors.
5
The celebrity's public apology seemed more like an attempt to wag the dog and salvage their public image.
