handbags

British

/ ˈhændˌbæɡz /

plural noun

facetious an incident in which people, esp sportsmen, fight or threaten to fight, but without real intent to inflict harm (esp in the phrases handbags at dawn, handbags at twenty paces, etc)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Those who can spot good quality will get the best products," she said, standing guard over a large pile of handbags.

From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026

Desire for new luxury handbags is intense if the design is right.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026

Last year, 44% of Hermès’ group sales came from handbags like the Birkin and the Kelly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026

"The co-ordinator and her cronies were busy shopping for handbags online."

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

Their front windows were full of dresses, handbags, children’s annuals, and when you went inside, a sweet stale smell.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023