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bag

US //ˈbæɡ// UK //bˈæɡ// bag
  1. 1 flexible container (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    a container made of thin material like paper, plastic, or cloth used to carry things.

    a flexible container with an opening at the top, typically made of paper, plastic, or fabric, used for carrying or storing goods.

    Example

    He carried the heavy groceries home in a large paper bag.

    Example

    The supermarket has transitioned to biodegradable bags to reduce the environmental impact of single-use plastics.
  2. 2 handbag or travel bag (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    a stronger container with handles used for personal items or travel.

    a durable container, often with handles or straps, designed for personal belongings or luggage.

    Example

    She realized she had left her bag on the bus this morning.

    Example

    The traveler checked his bag at the counter before proceeding through security to the departure gate.
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  1. 3 skin under eyes (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

    puffy or dark skin under your eyes, usually because you are tired.

    loose or puffy skin under the eyes, typically associated with exhaustion or aging. Usually plural.

    Example

    He had dark bags under his eyes after staying up all night.

    Example

    Chronic sleep deprivation often manifests physically as prominent bags under the eyes and a generally sallow complexion.
  2. 4 a large amount (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate British English Informal

    a lot of something.

    a large quantity or abundance of something. Often used in the plural 'bags of'.

    Example

    Don't worry about the snacks; we have bags of crisps in the kitchen.

    Example

    The young candidate has bags of enthusiasm, though he lacks the professional experience required for such a senior role.
  3. 5 personal preference (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    the kind of thing that you like or are interested in.

    an individual's particular area of interest, expertise, or preference.

    Example

    I'm not going to the jazz club; it's just not my bag.

    Example

    While some enjoy the technicalities of tax law, it was never really his bag, so he moved into criminal defense instead.
  4. 6 mathematical collection (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Math

    a group of things where the same item can appear more than once.

    a collection of objects in which the order does not matter but elements may be repeated.

    Example

    In this math problem, we treat the group of numbers as a bag.

    Example

    Unlike a standard set, a bag allows for multiple instances of the same value, which is useful for certain computational algorithms.
  5. 7 to put in a bag (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to put things into a bag.

    to place items into a bag for transport or sale.

    Example

    The clerk helped her bag the groceries at the checkout.

    Example

    After the harvest, the workers spent the afternoon bagging the potatoes for distribution to local markets.
  6. 8 to catch or claim (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    to succeed in getting or catching something before anyone else.

    to succeed in securing, catching, or claiming something, often through quick action.

    Example

    I managed to bag a seat right at the front of the bus.

    Example

    The company managed to bag a lucrative contract with the government despite stiff competition from larger firms.
  7. 9 to criticize (v.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Dialect

    to say mean or critical things about someone.

    to criticize or mock someone in a harsh or sarcastic manner.

    Example

    Stop bagging him just because he made one small mistake.

    Example

    The local press spent the entire week bagging the team's performance after their unexpected loss in the finals.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is specific to Australian and New Zealand English; learners should use 'criticize' in other regions.
Idioms9 entries

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