[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/bag/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [B](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/b/) / bag # bag noun (bag, bags); verb (bag, bags, bagged, bagging — to put in a bag; to grab; to criticise) «bag» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. A bag is a soft container you carry things in, made of paper, plastic, cloth or leather. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#m1) 2. A bag is the amount a bag holds: a bag of sweets. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#m2) 3. To bag something is to put it in a bag, or to grab it for yourself: I bagged the front seat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#m3) 4. (casual) «Bags» (UK, Ireland, Australia) or «dibs» (US) claims something first: «Bags the window seat!» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#m4) 5. (casual) «Bags of» means lots of: bags of time. «Not my bag» means not what I like. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#m5) 6. (casual, Australia, NZ) To bag someone is to criticise them or make fun of them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#m6) 7. (rude) «Old bag» is a nasty name for an older woman; do not use it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#m7) 8. (formal) The exam voice says «receptacle», «container», «sack», «parcel». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#m8) ### In the lessons a container; often one of several equal groups («3 bags, each has 4» = 3 × 4) or what a total is split into («equally into 3 bags» = divide); in everyday life school bag, shopping bag, lunch bag, sleeping bag, tea bag, schoolbag, «pack your bags»; in casual talk «bags I go first», «bags of time», «in the bag» (sure to happen); in safety never put a plastic bag over your head; in the exam voice «receptacles», «containers each containing» ### Examples - There are 3 bags. Each bag has 4 stamps. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#x1) - A box has 20 balloons and a bag has 19 balloons. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#x2) - Rita puts 18 sweets equally into 3 bags. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#x3) - Each bag holds 5 oranges. How many oranges are in 6 bags? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#x4) - Don't forget your school bag! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#x5) - We packed the groceries into bags. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#x6) - I bought a bag of chips for the trip. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#x7) - Plastic bags can hurt sea turtles, so we reuse them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#x8) - Bags the front seat! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#x9) - relax, we've got bags of time, bus is at 9 [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#x10) - We're 3 goals up, the game's in the bag. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#x11) - A total of 18 confectionery items is distributed equally among 3 receptacles; determine the contents of each receptacle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#x12) - These are magic bags which never grow empty. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/#x13) ### Note A container is not a clue by itself. Trap: «N bags, each has M» is multiply, «puts … equally into N bags» is divide, and «a box has … a bag has … how many fewer» is subtract. Count the things in the bags, not the bags, unless the question asks for bags. «bags of time» is a lot of time, not a number of bags; «in the bag» means sure to win. «Bags!» is a claim, like «dibs». «a receptacle» in an exam is just a container. ## In Jewish tradition A bag held weights for the market, and the law forbids false weights in it. The prophet Micah asks if God can accept a bag of deceitful weights. Job speaks of his sin as sealed up in a bag, and in the Song of Songs a bag of myrrh is a picture of a beloved. **Interpretation.** The rabbis taught that false weights are a serious sin because they cheat people. Honest measures were seen as a sign of fear of God. Job's sealed bag is read as a picture of sins kept safe until judgment. ### Examples - Thou shalt not have in thy bag diverse weights, a great and a small. (Torah DEU.25.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bag/#x1) - My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and Thou heapest up mine iniquity. (Writings JOB.14.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bag/#x2) - 'Shall I be pure with wicked balances, and with a bag of deceitful weights?' (Prophets MIC.6.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bag/#x3) - My beloved is unto me as a bag of myrrh, that lieth betwixt my breasts. (Writings SNG.1.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bag/#x4) ### Note A container is not a clue by itself. Trap: «N bags, each has M» is multiply, «puts … equally into N bags» is divide, and «a box has … a bag has … how many fewer» is subtract. Count the things in the bags, not the bags, unless the question asks for bags. «bags of time» is a lot of time, not a number of bags; «in the bag» means sure to win. «Bags!» is a claim, like «dibs». «a receptacle» in an exam is just a container. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «bag» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bag/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«bag» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bag.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «bag» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bag/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«bag» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/bag.html) on Mova free.