bag
bag — noun
1. a light, soft holder, usually thin plastic or paper with an open top, that you f
a light, soft holder, usually thin plastic or paper with an open top, that you fill with food, rubbish, or other small items.
Wren carried two paper bags of groceries up the stairs.
a bag of + noun (groceries)
The cashier asked Bram if he wanted a plastic bag for his apples.
Please tie the rubbish bag tightly before leaving it outside.
common collocation: rubbish/garbage bag
Rohan tipped the popcorn back into the bag and went to find his seat.
There were empty crisp bags scattered across the kitchen floor.
- a bag of rice
- paper bag
- plastic bag
- rubbish bag
- tie up a bag
Grammar Patterns
a bag of + noun
Usage Note
Often paired with the contents in the form 'a bag of X' (a bag of rice, a bag of sweets). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is for thin disposable holders, not items you carry on your shoulder.
Common Mistakes
2. a stronger holder with one or two handles or a strap, usually made of leather, c
a stronger holder with one or two handles or a strap, usually made of leather, cloth, or plastic, that you carry your money, books, or travel things in.
Hadiya dropped her keys back into her bag and zipped it shut.
We packed our bags the night before the flight to Tokyo.
collocation: pack a bag (for travel)
The schoolboy swung his bag onto his shoulder and ran for the bus.
Yara left her leather bag on the chair while she went to the counter.
Airport staff checked every bag at the security gate.
passive context: bags as luggage at airports
- pack a bag
- carry a bag
- shoulder bag
- leather bag
- school bag
Usage Note
Subject is usually a person carrying personal belongings. In British English a woman's bag is often called a handbag; in American English, a purse. For a traveller's bag, suitcase or luggage are common alternatives.
Common Mistakes
3. loose, dark, or puffy folds of skin below a person's eyes, caused by tiredness o
loose, dark, or puffy folds of skin below a person's eyes, caused by tiredness or aging.
After three nights of revision, Rohan had heavy bags under his eyes.
fixed phrase: bags under sb's eyes
Bram stared into the mirror at the dark bags below his eyes.
The new mother joked about the bags she had developed since the baby's birth.
Some skin creams claim to reduce puffy bags around the eyes.
- bags under your eyes
- heavy bags
- dark bags
- dark circles
specifically the dark colour, not the puffiness
- eye bags
compound noun, used in cosmetics contexts
Grammar Patterns
bags under sb's eyes
Usage Note
Almost always plural and almost always followed by 'under (sb's) eyes'. Treated as informal; in medical writing, 'periorbital puffiness' would be used instead.
Common Mistakes
4. on a shopping website, the area where you save the items you plan to buy before
on a shopping website, the area where you save the items you plan to buy before you pay for them.
Rohan added the blue dress to his bag and kept browsing the site.
fixed phrase: add to bag
Click the icon at the top to view everything in your bag.
The website warned Yara that items in her bag would not be reserved.
Bram emptied his bag because the shipping fee was too high.
- add to bag
- view bag
- empty your bag
- items in your bag
Grammar Patterns
add to bag
Usage Note
Common on British retail sites; American sites usually say 'cart' instead. The button is often labelled 'Add to bag'. Distinguish from sense 2: here it is a virtual collection on a screen, not a physical object.
Common Mistakes
5. a rude word for a woman, usually older, who the speaker thinks is mean or unplea
a rude word for a woman, usually older, who the speaker thinks is mean or unpleasant; used as an insult.
The boys called the strict librarian an old bag behind her back.
fixed phrase: old bag
Don't be such an old bag — let the children play in the garden.
Bram regretted the moment he had called his neighbour a bag.
The novel's villain is described as a bitter old bag who hates her relatives.
- old bag
- silly old bag
Grammar Patterns
old bag
Usage Note
Highly offensive, especially toward older women. Almost always appears as 'old bag'. Avoid in any polite, professional, or written context; learners should recognise it but not use it.
Common Mistakes
6. in baseball, the white square cushion fixed at each of the diamond's four corner
in baseball, the white square cushion fixed at each of the diamond's four corners; a runner has to step on it to score.
The runner slid into the bag a moment before the ball arrived.
collocation: slide into the bag
Yara rounded second bag and sprinted toward third.
The umpire studied the replay to see if the foot had touched the bag.
Coach Hana told the children to keep their eyes on the bag while running.
- slide into the bag
- round the bag
- first/second/third bag
Usage Note
Casual baseball term, used by players and fans interchangeably with 'base'. In formal commentary or rules, 'base' is preferred.
7. the quantity that fits inside one bag, used as an informal measure of food or ot
the quantity that fits inside one bag, used as an informal measure of food or other goods.
Rohan ate a whole bag of crisps while watching the film.
a bag of + noun as a measure
Bram poured a bag of sugar into the mixing bowl.
The recipe calls for two bags of frozen peas.
Hadiya bought three bags of flour for the bakery.
- a whole bag of
- a bag of crisps
- a bag of sugar
- two bags of
Grammar Patterns
a bag of + noun
Usage Note
This sense names the contents-as-measure, not the container itself. Distinguish from sense 1: 'I bought a bag' (sense 1, the container) vs 'I ate a bag of nuts' (sense 7, the amount).
Common Mistakes
in the bag
idiomalmost certain to be won, achieved, or obtained.
With ten minutes left and a four-goal lead, the win was in the bag.
Hadiya felt the job offer was in the bag after the second interview.
a mixed bag
idioma group of people or things that are very different from each other in quality or type.
The reviews of the new restaurant were a mixed bag, ranging from glowing to harsh.
Bram said the festival lineup was a mixed bag of folk and heavy metal.
to tell people about something that was meant to be a secret, often by mistake.
Rohan let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.
Don't let the cat out of the bag — the engagement is still a secret.
bag of bones
idioma person or animal that is extremely thin, often in a way that looks unhealthy.
The rescued dog was a bag of bones when the volunteers found him.
After the long illness, Yara looked like a bag of bones.
to be left to take all the blame or responsibility for something that other people were involved in.
When the project failed, the junior staff were left holding the bag.
Bram refused to be left holding the bag for his colleagues' mistakes.
(not) somebody’s bag
idiomSomething that you are interested in or good at, or the opposite if used with 'not'.
Cooking is not really my bag, but I can make toast.
Is classical music your bag, or do you prefer jazz?
bag and baggage
idiomWith all your belongings, often when leaving a place suddenly or secretly.
The landlord kicked them out bag and baggage last night.
She left the company bag and baggage without telling anyone.
a bag of bones
idiomA person or animal that is extremely thin.
After the illness, he was just a bag of bones.
The stray dog looked like a bag of bones.
a bag/box of tricks
idiomA collection of methods or equipment that someone can use.
The magician opened his bag of tricks for the show.
Our teacher has a whole bag of tricks to make math fun.
To be very nervous or anxious.
Before the exam, Sara was a bundle of nerves.
Why are you a bag of nerves? The interview will be fine.
be in the bag
idiomIf something is in the bag, it is almost certain to be won or achieved.
With a ten-point lead, the game is in the bag.
Don't relax yet; the deal isn't in the bag.
To suddenly make someone responsible for a difficult task that was originally yours.
My partner quit and left me holding the bag.
Don't leave me holding the bag while you go on vacation.
pack your bags
idiomTo leave a place or person permanently, especially after a disagreement.
After the fight, he packed his bags and moved out.
If you're not happy here, you can pack your bags.
To succeed in a difficult situation by making an extra effort or using a clever trick.
The team pulled a win out of the bag in the last minute.
Can you pull something out of the bag to save the project?
bag — verb
1. to place items into a bag, especially food at a shop or evidence at a crime scen
to place items into a bag, especially food at a shop or evidence at a crime scene.
The cashier bagged Hadiya's groceries while she searched for her wallet.
typical subject: a cashier or shop worker
Detectives carefully bagged the broken glass found near the door.
common in forensics: bag evidence
Please bag the leftover bread so it does not go stale overnight.
Volunteers bagged donated clothes and labelled each parcel.
- bag the groceries
- bag the evidence
- bag and label
Grammar Patterns
bag + noun
Usage Note
Subject is typically a worker or helper handling items for someone else (a cashier, a packer, a forensics officer). Object is the items, not the bag itself.
Common Mistakes
2. to take or claim something quickly so that no one else can have it.
to take or claim something quickly so that no one else can have it.
Bram bagged the seat by the window before anyone else could sit down.
informal British: claim the best spot
The students rushed to bag the front desks of the lecture hall.
Rohan bagged the last slice of pizza while his brothers were arguing.
Yara bagged a quiet corner of the cafe to do her homework.
- bag a seat
- bag a bargain
- bag the last one
- miss out on
fail to get something because someone else took it first
Grammar Patterns
bag + noun
Usage Note
Informal, mostly British and Australian. Object is usually a limited resource that several people want (seats, food, parking spots). Distinguish from sense 3 (winning): here you simply claim something available, no contest required.
Common Mistakes
3. to win or earn something valuable, especially after effort or competition.
to win or earn something valuable, especially after effort or competition.
Rohan bagged first prize in the regional spelling contest.
common collocation: bag a prize/award
The young actor bagged a leading role in a major film.
Hadiya bagged three gold medals at the school sports day.
The team bagged a surprise victory against the league champions.
- bag a prize
- bag a medal
- bag a deal
- bag a role
Grammar Patterns
bag + noun
Usage Note
Common in journalistic and informal speech, especially British media. Object is something earned competitively (prize, deal, role). Distinguish from sense 2: there has to be effort or competition, not just a quick grab of something free.
Common Mistakes
4. to catch or shoot a wild animal or bird while hunting.
to catch or shoot a wild animal or bird while hunting.
The hunters bagged two pheasants on the first morning of the trip.
typical object: game animals/birds
Bram has never bagged a deer in fifteen years of hunting.
Local farmers were allowed to bag rabbits damaging their crops.
Old hunting diaries record how many ducks each guest bagged that weekend.
- bag a deer
- bag a pheasant
- bag two birds
Grammar Patterns
bag + animal
Usage Note
Object must be an animal or bird that is legally hunted (game). Used both for capturing alive and for shooting; modern usage usually implies shooting. Subject is normally a hunter.
Common Mistakes
5. to successfully climb a mountain all the way up to its summit, especially as a p
to successfully climb a mountain all the way up to its summit, especially as a personal challenge collecting many peaks.
Yara has bagged every Munro in the Scottish Highlands.
fixed phrase: bag a Munro (Scottish peak)
After three failed tries, the team finally bagged Everest in May.
Hadiya bagged her tenth peak this summer and recorded each climb.
The retired teacher hopes to bag Mount Fuji before her seventieth birthday.
- bag a peak
- bag a Munro
- bag a summit
Grammar Patterns
bag + mountain name
Usage Note
Niche mountaineering slang, especially British. Object is normally a named peak. Often appears with hill-collecting traditions like 'Munro bagging' (climbing Scotland's 282 mountains over 3,000 feet).
Common Mistakes
6. of clothing, to hang in loose folds rather than fitting closely to the body.
of clothing, to hang in loose folds rather than fitting closely to the body.
Hadiya's old jeans bagged at the knees after years of wear.
common subject: trousers/jeans bagging at the knees
The sleeves of the borrowed jacket bagged around Bram's wrists.
Cheap cotton tends to bag after one or two washes.
The school uniform bagged badly on the small first-year pupils.
- bag at the knees
- bag around the waist
- trousers bag
- fit snugly
of clothing, to sit closely against the body
Usage Note
Subject is the garment itself, not the wearer. Often combined with a body-part location ('bag at the knees', 'bag around the waist'). The adjective form 'baggy' is far more common in everyday speech.
Common Mistakes
7. to stop doing or using something, often because a better choice has come up.
to stop doing or using something, often because a better choice has come up.
Bram bagged his evening run because his friend invited him to dinner.
informal American: drop a plan
Let's bag the meeting and grab coffee instead.
imperative: 'let's bag X'
Rohan bagged his old commute and started cycling to work.
Hadiya bagged the diet after one tough week of cravings.
- bag the plan
- bag the meeting
- bag the trip
- stick with
to keep doing something rather than abandoning it
Grammar Patterns
bag + noun
Usage Note
Informal American slang, mostly spoken. Object is an activity, plan, or habit you abandon. Often paired with a contrast ('bag X and do Y instead'). Easily confused with sense 2 (claim quickly) — context tells them apart: bagging a chore means dropping it, bagging a chair means grabbing it.
Common Mistakes
8. to make fun of or speak harshly about a person or thing, usually in a mean way.
to make fun of or speak harshly about a person or thing, usually in a mean way.
The classmates kept bagging Bram for his bright orange shoes.
pattern: bag (on) + person + for + reason
Critics bagged the new film for its weak ending.
Don't bag on Hadiya's cooking — she's still learning.
common phrase: bag on someone
Rohan hates how his brothers bag on his favourite singer.
- bag on someone
- bag a film
- stop bagging me
- praise
to say good things about someone or something
Grammar Patterns
bag on + noun
Usage Note
Informal, especially Australian and American teen slang. Often appears as 'bag on someone' in American English. Considered rude or hurtful in formal contexts; safer to avoid in writing.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All four words name a flexible container, but they differ in size, material, and what you put inside. 'Bag' is the everyday choice and the broadest term — paper, plastic, or cloth, holding anything from sweets to bricks. 'Sack' is bigger, rougher, and made of cloth or strong plastic; it suggests heavy goods like coal, potatoes, or post for delivery. 'Pouch' is small and often closes with a string, zip, or button; think of a tobacco pouch, a coin pouch, or the pouch on a kangaroo. 'Packet' is sealed and usually holds a single product portion — a packet of biscuits, a packet of seeds. So you carry shopping in a bag, dump rubbish in a sack, keep coins in a pouch, and open a packet of crisps.
Common collocations
Nouns
- paper bag
- plastic bag
- shopping bag
- school bag
- sleeping bag
- bin bag
- rubbish bag
- shoulder bag
Phrases
- pack one's bags
- bag and baggage
- in the bag
- a mixed bag
- bags of (lots of)
Prepositions
- in a bag
- into a bag
- out of a bag
- from the bag
Etymology
The English word entered the language around 1200 from Old Norse 'baggi', meaning a pack or bundle, brought to Britain by Scandinavian settlers. The word's roots are uncertain — possibly Celtic — but its core idea of a flexible holder has been steady for eight hundred years. Verb senses ('to put into a bag', then later 'to capture' as a hunter puts game into a game bag) developed from the noun in the late 1500s, with the modern slang sense of 'to claim quickly' growing out of that hunting use.