WordLens

in the bag

1 of 1phrase
/ɪn ðə bæɡ/
1

used to convey that something is guaranteed to be accomplished

The origin of the idiom "in the bag" is actually uncertain, but there are a few theories about its origins. One theory is that it comes from the world of hunting, where a hunter who successfully shoots and kills an animal would place it in a bag to carry it home, implying a successful hunt. Another theory is that the idiom comes from the sport of horseshoes, where a horseshoe that lands in the scoring area is "in the bag" and scores points for the player, indicating definite success. The idiom is used more generally to describe a situation where achieving success or victory is considered certain or very likely.

  • The actor's Oscar win was in the bag after receiving widespread critical acclaim for their performance.
  • The team's victory was in the bag as soon as their star player scored the winning goal.
  • After acing all the practice tests, she felt that success in the exam was in the bag.
  • With their significant lead, victory in the game seemed to be in the bag for the home team.