mixed bag

American  

noun

Informal.

1. an often unexpected assortment of various things, people, or ideas.

   The concert was a mixed bag of works from three centuries.

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mixed bag British  

noun

1. informal something composed of diverse elements, characteristics, people, etc

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mixed bag Idioms  

1. A heterogeneous collection of people, items, activities, or the like; an assortment. For example, The school offers a mixed bag of after-school activities—team sports, band practice, a language class. This idiom calls up the image of a sack full of different items. [First half of 1900s]

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Etymology

Origin of mixed bag

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

For British singer- songwriter Myles Smith, it's a "mixed bag" as to why artists might choose to stay put.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

In the live-action category, a mixed bag of approaches — some inspired by classic literature — are burnished by inspired performances.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026

The story on this side of the Atlantic is, to be generous, a mixed bag.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 18, 2026

The arguments people make for these platforms are a mixed bag.

From Slate • Jan. 6, 2026

But with a mixed bag of men, I had to grab leadership quick or be relegated to nowhere.

From The Planet Savers by Bradley, Marion Zimmer