Bags are more than just things we use to carry our stuff. In everyday speech, people use the word “bag” in fun and interesting ways. These special phrases, called idioms, can help us express thoughts and feelings in a clear and colorful way. For example, someone might say, “He’s in the bag,” to mean something is already certain. These idioms are part of how we talk and understand each other better.
Idioms about bags are used to talk about success, surprises, emotions, and more. They help make speaking and writing more fun. In this article, we will learn 25 common idioms about bags. We’ll see what they mean and how to use them in everyday talk. You’ll also find a short quiz at the end to test what you’ve learned. Let’s get started!
Idioms About Bags
1. In the bag
Meaning: Something is sure to happen or succeed
Example Sentence:
• The win is in the bag because our team is the best.
• I studied hard, so the test is in the bag.
Other ways to say: A sure thing, guaranteed
Fun Fact/Origin: This came from horse racing, where a bag would carry the winning money.
Usage: Used when someone is confident they will succeed
2. Bag of nerves
Meaning: Very anxious or worried
Example Sentence:
• She was a bag of nerves before the school play.
• I felt like a bag of nerves before my dentist visit.
Other ways to say: Nervous wreck, super worried
Fun Fact/Origin: It compares someone to a bag full of shaking nerves.
Usage: Used when someone feels very nervous
3. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: Reveal a secret
Example Sentence:
• He let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.
• Oops! I let the cat out of the bag too early.
Other ways to say: Spill the beans, tell a secret
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from markets where people used to hide things in bags.
Usage: Used when someone accidentally tells a secret
4. Bag of tricks
Meaning: A set of clever methods or ideas
Example Sentence:
• The magician had a big bag of tricks.
• My teacher always has a bag of tricks to make class fun.
Other ways to say: Tool kit, clever ideas
Fun Fact/Origin: Magicians are known for pulling tricks out of bags.
Usage: Used to describe someone who has many ways to solve problems
5. Grab bag
Meaning: A mix of different things
Example Sentence:
• The show was a grab bag of funny and sad stories.
• My backpack is a grab bag of school stuff.
Other ways to say: Mix, variety
Fun Fact/Origin: Grab bags were used in stores where people got a surprise item.
Usage: Used when talking about things that are all different
6. Bag of bones
Meaning: Very skinny person
Example Sentence:
• After being sick, he looked like a bag of bones.
• The stray dog was just a bag of bones.
Other ways to say: Very thin, skin and bones
Fun Fact/Origin: It compares someone to a bag that only has bones in it.
Usage: Used when describing someone who looks very skinny
7. Bag it
Meaning: To stop doing something or to quit
Example Sentence:
• I’m too tired to clean, let’s bag it for today.
• He bagged the project because it was too hard.
Other ways to say: Quit, give up
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of putting something away in a bag.
Usage: Used when someone stops doing something
8. Blow a bag
Meaning: To spend a lot of money
Example Sentence:
• He blew a bag on video games.
• She blew a bag at the shoe store.
Other ways to say: Spend big, go shopping
Fun Fact/Origin: “Bag” here means a lot of money.
Usage: Used when someone spends a lot at once
9. Bag of laughs
Meaning: Someone or something very funny
Example Sentence:
• My uncle is a bag of laughs at family dinners.
• That movie was a bag of laughs.
Other ways to say: Hilarious, funny person
Fun Fact/Origin: Compares someone to a bag full of laughter.
Usage: Used when something or someone makes people laugh
10. To bag something
Meaning: To get or win something
Example Sentence:
• She bagged the lead role in the play.
• He bagged the prize at the science fair.
Other ways to say: Win, earn
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from hunting, where hunters “bagged” animals.
Usage: Used when someone gets something they wanted
11. Bag and baggage
Meaning: With all belongings
Example Sentence:
• She moved to Florida, bag and baggage.
• He showed up at camp with his bag and baggage.
Other ways to say: With everything, fully packed
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase goes back to the 1400s in England.
Usage: Used when someone moves with all their stuff
12. Old bag
Meaning: A rude way to say someone is mean and old
Example Sentence:
• The kids called the strict neighbor an old bag.
• She can act like an old bag when she’s grumpy.
Other ways to say: Grump, cranky old person
Fun Fact/Origin: It started as an insult in the early 20th century.
Usage: Used as a negative comment (not polite!)
13. Mixed bag
Meaning: A mix of good and bad
Example Sentence:
• The field trip was a mixed bag—fun but tiring.
• The test was a mixed bag of easy and hard questions.
Other ways to say: A bit of both, so-so
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of pulling random things out of a bag.
Usage: Used when something has ups and downs
14. Bag lady
Meaning: A homeless woman carrying bags
Example Sentence:
• The woman on the bench looked like a bag lady.
• He helped a bag lady with food and water.
Other ways to say: Homeless woman (not a nice term)
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to women carrying their life in bags.
Usage: Used to describe someone who looks very poor or homeless
15. Bag someone
Meaning: To catch or arrest someone
Example Sentence:
• The police bagged the thief last night.
• He bagged the fish before it swam away.
Other ways to say: Capture, catch
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from hunting and police work.
Usage: Used when someone is caught or captured
16. That’s not my bag
Meaning: That’s not something I like or do
Example Sentence:
• Sports aren’t my bag—I like reading.
• Baking is fun, but it’s not my bag.
Other ways to say: Not my thing, not for me
Fun Fact/Origin: Became popular in the 1960s in the U.S.
Usage: Used to say you’re not interested in something
17. Bag your face
Meaning: A rude way to tell someone to go away
Example Sentence:
• That’s not nice—don’t tell someone to bag their face.
• The bully told him to bag his face.
Other ways to say: Go away (rude)
Fun Fact/Origin: Slang from the 1980s
Usage: Used as an insult (not kind or polite)
18. Bagman
Meaning: Someone who collects or delivers money (sometimes illegal)
Example Sentence:
• The bagman showed up to get the payment.
• In movies, the bagman does the dirty work.
Other ways to say: Money carrier, middleman
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in crime stories and detective tales
Usage: Used when talking about someone who handles money secretly
19. Bag of wind
Meaning: Someone who talks too much
Example Sentence:
• That guy is just a bag of wind.
• She talks so much—what a bag of wind!
Other ways to say: Talker, chatterbox
Fun Fact/Origin: Windy talkers are compared to a bag full of air.
Usage: Used when someone brags or talks too much
20. Bag it up
Meaning: Put something away or wrap it
Example Sentence:
• Bag it up before it spills.
• He bagged up the sandwiches for lunch.
Other ways to say: Pack it, wrap it
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from grocery stores and packing
Usage: Used when someone puts something in a bag
21. Brown bag it
Meaning: To bring your own food
Example Sentence:
• I’m brown bagging it today for lunch.
• She brown bags her meals to save money.
Other ways to say: Pack lunch, bring food from home
Fun Fact/Origin: Brown bags were used for homemade lunches
Usage: Used when people bring their own food
22. Baggy eyes
Meaning: Puffy eyes from tiredness
Example Sentence:
• I had baggy eyes after staying up all night.
• He looked tired with baggy eyes in class.
Other ways to say: Puffy eyes, tired eyes
Fun Fact/Origin: Tired people often get puffy under-eye skin
Usage: Used to describe how someone looks when very tired
23. Bag of gold
Meaning: A lot of money
Example Sentence:
• Winning the lottery is like getting a bag of gold.
• That old coin is worth a bag of gold.
Other ways to say: Riches, treasure
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from fairy tales and pirate stories
Usage: Used when talking about lots of money
24. Baggy clothes
Meaning: Loose-fitting clothes
Example Sentence:
• He wore baggy clothes to stay comfy.
• Her sweater was warm and baggy.
Other ways to say: Loose clothes, oversized clothes
Fun Fact/Origin: Baggy means hanging like a bag
Usage: Used when describing clothing
25. To bag a seat
Meaning: To save or take a seat
Example Sentence:
• I bagged a seat near the front.
• She bagged two seats for her friends.
Other ways to say: Save a spot, claim a seat
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from people using bags to save spots
Usage: Used when someone takes or saves a place to sit
Quiz: Idioms About Bags
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. What does “in the bag” mean?
A) Something is a mystery
B) Something is sure to happen
C) Something is hidden in a bag
2. If someone is a “bag of nerves,” how do they feel?
A) Very relaxed
B) Very excited
C) Very anxious
3. What does “let the cat out of the bag” mean?
A) To release a pet
B) To tell a secret
C) To open a shopping bag
4. What does it mean when someone “bags a prize”?
A) Gives it away
B) Wins it
C) Wraps it
5. If a lunch is “brown bagged,” what happened?
A) It was bought at a store
B) It was made at home
C) It was thrown away
6. What kind of person is called a “bag of wind”?
A) Someone who talks too much
B) Someone who runs fast
C) Someone who eats fast
7. If your clothes are “baggy,” how do they fit?
A) Very tight
B) Very loose
C) Just right
8. What does a “grab bag” mean?
A) A bag you steal
B) A mix of different things
C) A sports bag
9. If you “bag it,” what are you doing?
A) Starting something new
B) Finishing something fast
C) Stopping or quitting
10. If someone “bags a seat,” what are they doing?
A) Throwing away the seat
B) Saving or taking a seat
C) Fixing the seat
Answer Key
- B) Something is sure to happen
- C) Very anxious
- B) To tell a secret
- B) Wins it
- B) It was made at home
- A) Someone who talks too much
- B) Very loose
- B) A mix of different things
- C) Stopping or quitting
- B) Saving or taking a seat
Wrapping Up
Idioms about bags are fun and helpful ways to describe how we feel or what we do. You can use them to talk about winning, being nervous, spending money, or even saving a seat. These expressions make our conversations more interesting. Try using some the next time you talk or write.
The more you learn idioms like these, the easier it becomes to understand everyday language. So go ahead—pick your favorite idioms and add them to your own bag of words!
