DCHP-2

rag the puck DCHP-2 (June 2016)

• 1 expression — Hockey

  to keep possession of the puck as a defensive measure.

  Type: 5. Frequency — As shown in Chart 1, the use of rag the puck is virtually exclusive to Canada. The expression appears to have developed as a variation for keeping the puck, using "rag" as a verb (see the 1918 quotation). In addition, the significance of hockey as a sport in Canada's social and historical development warrants the treatment of hockey terms as culturally significant (see CBC reference).

  See also: puck-ragging (meaning 1)  

• 2 expression — in figurative use, informal, usually Politics

  to stall or kill time as a defensive measure.

  Type: 4. Culturally Significant — COD-2 lists only the figurative meaning (see COD-2, s.v. "rag the puck" (1)), as Canadian, while meaning 1 is unmarked regionally (see also Gage-5, ITP Nelson and OED-3). This meaning is used to describe political situations where one party is tactically stalling (see the quotations). OED-3 marks the term as "Cdn", labeling a Canadian source as the earliest attestation.
  See also COD-2, s.v. "rag the puck (2)", which is marked as "Cdn. slang".

  See also: puck-ragging (meaning 2)