bag

¹

[bag]

noun

1. a container or receptacle of leather, plastic, cloth, paper, etc., capable of being closed at the mouth; pouch.

2. something resembling or suggesting such a receptacle.

3. a suitcase or other portable container for carrying articles, as in traveling.

4. a handbag or moneybag.

5. the amount or quantity a bag can hold.

6. any of various measures of capacity.

7. a sac, as in an animal body.

8. an udder.

9. Slang.,  a small glassine or cellophane envelope containing a narcotic drug or a mixture of narcotics.

10. something hanging in a loose, pouchlike manner, as skin or cloth; a baggy part.

    He had bags under his eyes from lack of sleep.

11. Baseball.,  base.

12. Hunting.,  the amount of game taken, especially by one hunter in one hunting trip or over a specified period.

13. Slang.

    1. a person's avocation, hobby, major interest, or obsession.

       Jazz isn't my bag.

    2. a person's mood or frame of mind.

       The boss is in a mean bag today.

    3. an environment, condition, or situation.

14. bags,

    1. Informal.,  plenty; much; many (usually followed byof ).

       bags of time; bags of money.

    2. Slang.,  trousers.

verb (used without object)

bagged, bagging 

1. to swell or bulge.

   A stiff breeze made the sails bag out.

2. to hang loosely like an empty bag.

   His socks bagged at the ankles.

3. to pack groceries or other items into a bag.

4. Slang.,  to criticize, disparage, or dismiss a person or thing (usually followed byon ).

   Stop bagging on me!

verb (used with object)

bagged, bagging 

1. to cause to swell or bulge; distend.

   The wind bagged the curtain.

2. to put into a bag.

3. Informal.,  to kill or catch, as in hunting.

   I bagged my first deer when I was a teenager.

4. Slang.,  to quit, abandon, or skip (often used in the phrasebag it ): We'd better bag the deal.

   I bagged my math class today.

   We'd better bag the deal.

   I was working too hard so I decided to bag it.

5. Slang.,  to criticize, disparage, or dismiss.

   Don’t bag my vegan diet—I feel great since I started it.

6. Theater.,  clew.

interjection

1. British Slang.,  bags! (used to lay first claim to something): Bags, I go first!

   Bags it!

   Bags, I go first!

B.Ag.

²

abbreviation

1. Bachelor of Agriculture.

bag

/ bæɡ /

noun

1. a flexible container with an opening at one end

2. Also called: bagful. the contents of or amount contained in such a container

3. any of various measures of quantity, such as a bag containing 1 hundredweight of coal

4. a piece of portable luggage

5. short for handbag

6. anything that hangs loosely, sags, or is shaped like a bag, such as a loose fold of skin under the eyes or the bulging part of a sail

7. any pouch or sac forming part of the body of an animal, esp the udder of a cow

8. hunting the quantity of quarry taken in a single hunting trip or by a single hunter

9. derogatory,  an ugly or bad-tempered woman (often in the phrase old bag )

10. slang,  a measure of marijuana, heroin, etc, in folded paper

11. slang,  a person's particular taste, field of skill, interest, activity, etc

    blues is his bag

12. informal

    1. with all one's belongings

    2. entirely

13. a lean creature

14. slang,  almost assured of succeeding or being obtained

15. informal,  every device; everything

verb

1. (tr) to put into a bag

2. to bulge or cause to bulge; swell

3. (tr) to capture or kill, as in hunting

4. (tr) to catch, seize, or steal

5. (intr) to hang loosely; sag

6. (tr) to achieve or accomplish

   she bagged seven birdies

7. informal,  (tr) to reserve or secure the right to do or to have something

   he bagged the best chair

8. slang,  (tr) to criticize; disparage

Other Word Forms

• baglike adjective
• unbagged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bag¹

First recorded in 1200–50; 1920–25 bag for def. 31; Middle English bagge, from Old Norse baggi “pack, bundle, bag”

Word History and Origins

Origin of bag¹

C13: probably from Old Norse baggi ; related to Old French bague bundle, pack, Medieval Latin baga chest, sack, Flemish bagge

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. bag of tricks, a supply of expedient resources; stratagems.

   Maybe they will finally be honest with us, once they've run through their bag of tricks.

2. bag and baggage,

   1. with all one's personal property.

      When they went to collect the rent, they found he had left, bag and baggage.

   2. completely; totally.

      The equipment had disappeared, bag and baggage, without even the slightest trace.

3. in the bag, virtually certain; assured; definite: The sale of the house is in the bag.

   Her promotion is in the bag.

   The sale of the house is in the bag.

4. old bag, an unattractive, often slatternly woman.

   a gossipy old bag.

5. leave holding the bag / sack, to force to bear the entire blame, responsibility, or loss that was to have been shared.

   His accomplices flew to South America and he was left holding the bag.

6. bag of bones, an emaciated person or animal.

More idioms and phrases containing bag

• brown bagger
• grab bag
• in the bag
• leave holding the bag
• let the cat out of the bag
• mixed bag

Example Sentences

He climbed into his sleeping bag without dinner, because he knew it was more important to warm up before the cold of night descended than it was to eat.

From Los Angeles Times

Brazilian exporters are in search of buyers for about eight million bags of beans sold to US roasters each year as importers begin to feel the impact of tariffs.

From BBC

From shattered stairways, residents emerge with potted plants and bags of clothes covered in dust that somehow survived the strike.

From BBC

But an opportunistic wedding crasher made off with more than a goodie bag at a reception over the weekend.

From Los Angeles Times

"I had all my bags and clothes in the boot of the car, and then I got temporary accommodation on Friday, a two-bed flat which has me and four kids in."

From BBC

Related Words

• backpack 
• briefcase 
• gear 
• handbag 
• kit 
• pack 
• packet 
• pocket 
• pouch 
• purse 
• sack 
• suitcase