mag
Low to Mid (familiar in certain informal/regional contexts)Informal, slang, regional. Avoid in formal writing.
Definition
Meaning
A colloquial abbreviation for 'magazine', referring to a periodical publication or a publication of collected articles; also a slang term for a talk or conversation; in UK informal usage, can mean to chatter or talk incessantly.
Informal abbreviation for magnet or magnum; In British military slang, to clean or polish (especially a weapon) vigorously; In Scottish, to tease or make fun of someone.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Highly context-dependent. Primary modern understanding is 'magazine', but its verb forms are UK/Australian slang. Clarity often requires surrounding context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'mag' is commonly used as a verb meaning 'to chatter' or 'to talk incessantly'. In the US, 'mag' is almost exclusively a noun for 'magazine'. The UK also uses 'mag' for 'magnet' in engineering slang.
Connotations
UK verb usage can be negative ('to prattle on'). US noun usage is neutral, simply an abbreviation.
Frequency
More common as a noun in both regions. The verb usage is declining in the UK but persists regionally.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[subject] + mag on + [topic] (UK verb)read/flip through + a/the + magsubscribe to + a + magVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Have a mag (UK/AU: have a chat)”
- “Mag out (UK: to talk something over)”
- “Stop magging! (UK: stop chattering)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'We need to get a feature in a leading industry mag.' (Refers to magazine)
Academic
Extremely rare. Would appear only in informal contexts or discussing media.
Everyday
'I picked up a mag for the train ride.' (Magazine) or 'We were just having a mag.' (UK: chat)
Technical
In engineering contexts, can abbreviate 'magnet', e.g., 'Check the starter mag.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She wouldn't stop magging about her holiday.
- They magged on for hours about football.
American English
- (Verb use is rare and non-standard in AmE) 'He's always magging' would be misunderstood.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard as adverb)
American English
- (Not standard as adverb)
adjective
British English
- (Not standard as adjective)
American English
- (Not standard as adjective)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I read a mag every week.
- This is a car mag.
- He bought a computer mag from the shop.
- We had a quick mag about the plans.
- The article in that tech mag was surprisingly insightful.
- She tends to mag on when she's nervous.
- The indie music mag folded after its funding was cut.
- His tendency to mag incessantly made the meeting run over.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MAGazine losing its 'azine' in a rush - you're left with MAG. Or, for the verb, imagine someone with a MAGnetic personality who loves to MAG (talk).
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION IS A FLOWING SUBSTANCE (for verb usage: 'He magged on and on').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'мг' (instant).
- The verb 'to mag' has no direct Russian equivalent; it is slang for 'болтать'.
- Distinguish from 'mag' as magazine (журнал) vs 'mag' as magnet (магнит).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'mag' in formal writing.
- Assuming the noun form is universally understood as 'magnet'.
- Using the UK verb form in the US where it is not recognized.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'mag' most likely to mean 'to talk'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it's a recognized informal abbreviation for 'magazine' in both the UK and US, and a slang verb in the UK/Australia.
No, it is informal slang. Use the full word 'magazine' in formal writing.
Generally, no. An American would assume you mean 'magazine' and the sentence would be confusing.
The plural is 'mags', e.g., 'a stack of old mags'.