handbag

ˈhændˌbæɡ

3 definitions

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#1·8h ago

(now, rare) A small bag carried in the hand, used either when travelling or to carry tools for a specific job.

Origin: From . The music genre is named from women dancing around a pile of their handbags in nightclubs. The verb is a reference to Margaret Thatcher's handbag. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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#2·8h ago

(chiefly, Commonwealth) A small bag used chiefly by women for carrying various small personal items, sometimes considered as a fashion accessory.

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#3·8h ago

(British, transitive, idiomatic, humorous, metonym) To attack verbally or subject to criticism (typically used of a woman).

‘Apparently Birt happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time on Sunday afternoon. Virginia saw him and handbagged him. She really was very cross.’

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