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1[countable] (often in compounds) a container made of paper or plastic, which opens at the top, used especially in stores a plastic/paper bag a shopping/lunch bag a black plastic trash/garbage bag
- 2[countable] a strong container made from cloth, plastic, leather, etc., usually with one or two handles, used to carry things in when shopping or traveling a tote/makeup bag an overnight bag He's upstairs unpacking his bags. She opened her bag (= her handbag) and took out her comb. see airbag, beanbag, garment bag, goody bag, punching bag, sandbag, tea bag Which Word?baggage / luggage / bags
- Baggage is the term used for the packed suitcases that travelers carry with them:I try not to check any baggage if I can. baggage handlers the baggage claim area in the airport
- Luggage is more formal than baggage and is often used to describe the empty bags themselves:I need to buy some new luggage for my vacation next month.
- Both baggage and luggage are noncount nouns:Do you have a lot of baggage? The couple had matching luggage.
- Bags are individual pieces of baggage:You're allowed one checked bag and one carry-on. How many bags do you have?
amount - 3[countable] bag (of something) the amount contained in a bag She ate a bag of chips. see mixed bag, ragbag under eyes
- 4bags [plural] dark circles or loose folds of skin under the eyes, as a result of getting old or lack of sleep unpleasant woman
- 5[countable] (informal) an insulting word for an unpleasant or bad-tempered older woman an interfering old bag see scumbag, windbag birds/animals
- 6[countable, usually singular] all the birds, animals, etc. shot or caught on one occasion We got a good bag today. There are many other compounds ending in bag. You will find them at their place in the alphabet. Idioms
container
(not) something that you are interested in or good at Poetry isn't really my bag.
a very thin person or animal The cat hadn't been fed for weeks and was just a bag of bones.
a set of methods or equipment that someone can use Hotel managers are using a whole new bag of tricks to attract guests.
to be very nervous
if something is in the bag, it is almost certain to be won or achieved
to suddenly make someone responsible for something important, such as finishing a difficult job, that is really your responsibility You two were going to fly off and leave me holding the bag.
to tell a secret carelessly or by mistake I wanted it to be a surprise, but my sister let the cat out of the bag.
to leave a person or place permanently, especially after a disagreement
Check pronunciation: bag