doggy bag

American  

noun

1. a small bag provided on request by a restaurant for a customer to carry home leftovers of a meal, ostensibly to feed a dog or other pet.

---

doggy bag British  

noun

1. a bag into which leftovers from a meal may be put and taken away, supposedly for the diner's dog

---

Usage

What does doggy bag mean? A doggy bag is a bag or container that a diner uses to bring home the leftovers of their meal from a restaurant.At the end of the meal, if the diner has food left over that they want to bring home, they can ask for a doggy bag. The server may then take the food from the table and package it up for the customer, or they may simply bring the customer the containers.It is sometimes spelled doggie bag. A doggie bag can also be called a to-go bag or a take-home bag. Diners might simply ask for a bag or box or for the rest of their meal to be “wrapped up” or “boxed.” Or they might ask to have the leftovers “to-go.”Doggie bag means something different than takeout or carry-out, which refer to food picked up from a restaurant to be eaten at home. In contrast, a doggy bag is a bag for the leftovers of the meal that was eaten at the restaurant.Example: I ordered way too much food, so I’m going to take the rest home—can you pack it up for me in a doggy bag?

Etymology

Origin of doggy bag

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70

Example Sentences

This is the very real harvest us weirdos who love ice fishing seek to leave with as much as photos or dinner: this little doggy bag of blessedness.

From New York Times • Mar. 4, 2020

Every weekday morning after she takes the kids to school, she hops on an electric moped, stuffs her dog into her doggy bag and rides to her studio in Brooklyn.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 11, 2019

John’s face when he realised we were in a vegetarian restaurant; me asking for a doggy bag.

From The Guardian • Aug. 4, 2018

I never toss the doggy bag into a trash can that is not mine unless it’s full about to be picked up.

From Slate • Feb. 15, 2017

Oh, and don’t forget to bring a doggy bag.

From Washington Post • Mar. 25, 2016