# bag out

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bag-out
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to criticize

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · Dialect · Slang · Informal

to criticize someone or something in a mean or harsh way.

For teachers: To criticize or disparage someone or something, often unfairly or persistently. Transitive and typically used in informal spoken contexts.

- Stop bagging out your brother just because he made one mistake.
- The local press began to bag out the council's new urban development plan before the first brick was even laid.

Usage: The object can be placed between 'bag' and 'out' or after the full phrase.

Teaching tip: This is specific to Australian English; using it in the UK or US might cause confusion as it is not a standard global term.

### 2. fishing limit

phrasal verb · CEFR C2 · Dialect · Slang · Technical

to catch the maximum number of fish allowed by law for one day.

For teachers: To reach the daily bag limit (the legal catch quota) in recreational fishing. Intransitive or transitive use.

- We bagged out on snapper within two hours of reaching the reef.
- The fishing party managed to bag out early in the afternoon, prompting them to return to the harbor ahead of schedule.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'on' followed by the species of fish.

Teaching tip: This is a very niche term used by recreational fishers in Australia.

## Examples

- Stop bagging out your brother just because he's slow.
- The critics really bagged out the new movie, calling it a complete waste of time.
- While it is common for political commentators to bag out the opposition's policies, this particular editorial was unusually personal and aggressive.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: Introduce this as a regional synonym for 'criticize' or 'trash'; it is useful for students interested in Australian culture or media.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.