grab bag

American  

noun

1. a container or receptacle from which a person at a party or the like draws a gift without knowing what it is.

2. any miscellaneous collection.

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grab bag British  

noun

1. a collection of miscellaneous things

2. a bag or other container from which gifts are drawn at random

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grab bag Idioms  

1. A miscellaneous collection, as in The meeting amounted to a grab bag of petty complaints. This term alludes to a container offered at a party or fair, where one dips in for a party favor or prize without knowing what one will get. [Mid-1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of grab bag

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

grab bag

Markel didn’t help itself with a disappointing first-quarter profit report in late April that reflected weakness at the noninsurance businesses—a grab bag of about two dozen companies.

From Barron's ● May 8, 2026

But if you can’t get a grab bag, you can perhaps sip on an award-winning wine.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 24, 2026

Its experience of video podcast ads so far has been a grab bag of host reads to camera, recording combined with static images, and some fully produced segments, she said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 17, 2025

It’s mostly a grab bag of targeted subsidies: for parents of small children, for first-time homebuyers, for small businesses, for manufacturing and technology.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2024

The sheriff's job was not an easy one, and that county which, out of the grab bag of popular elections, pulled a good sheriff was lucky.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck