on the rag

Meanings

prepositional phrase

derogatoryeuphemisticidiomaticslangsometimesvulgarMenstruating.
Harold: How is Sarah? I don't want to jump her while she's on the rag.
1983, The Big Chill
1 more example
She herself had begun menstruation shortly after her eleventh birthday and had gone to the head of the stairs to yell down excitedly: "Hey, Mum, I'm on the rag!"
1974, Stephen King, Carrie, page 14
Synonyms: on one's period
broadlyderogatoryidiomaticslangvulgarIn a bad mood; angry or irritable.
On the rag, in a bad mood.—College males, Arizona. I had a lousy time last night because she was on the rag.
1967, University of South Dakota, English Dept, Current Slang, Volumes 2-5, page 5
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see on, the, rag.

prepositional phraseMenstruating.

Similar

Also see

From rag as a slang term for a menstrual pad. First use appears c. 1967. See cite below.

Cite this entry

APA

on the rag. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20rag

MLA

“on the rag.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20rag. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “on the rag,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20rag.