sandbag
pronunciation
How to pronounce sandbag in British English:
UK [ˈsændbæg]
How to pronounce sandbag in American English:
US [ˈsændˌbæɡ]
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- Noun:
- a bag filled with sand; used as a weapon or to build walls or as ballast
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- Verb:
- treat harshly or unfairly
- compel by coercion, threats, or crude means
- hit something or somebody as if with a sandbag
- downplay one's ability (towards others) in a game in order to deceive, as in gambling
- protect or strengthen with sandbags; stop up
Word Origin
- sandbag (n.)
- 1580s, from sand (n.) + bag (n.).
- sandbag (v.)
- 1860, "furnish with sandbags," from sandbag (n.). Meaning "pretend weakness," 1970s perhaps is extended from poker-playing sense of "refrain from raising at the first opportunity in hopes of raising more steeply later" (1940), which perhaps is from sandbagger in the sense of "bully or ruffian who uses a sandbag as a weapon to knock his intended victim unconscious" (1882). Hence "to fell or stun with a blow from a sandbag" (1887). Related: Sandbagged; sandbagging.
Example
- 1. Hit something or somebody as if with a sandbag .
- 2. Sean , did you throw the sandbag .
- 3. I didn 't mean to sandbag you .
- 4. L will be your human sandbag !
- 5. But allow me to pause for a moment and throw another sandbag on the levee of those trying to resist this tide .