sandbag

[ sand-bag ]

/ ˈsændˌbæg /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sandbag ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a bag filled with sand, used in fortification, as ballast, etc.

such a bag used as a weapon.

verb (used with object), sand·bagged, sand·bag·ging.

to furnish with sandbags.

to hit or stun with a sandbag.

Informal.

to set upon violently; attack from or as if from ambush.
to coerce or intimidate, as by threats: The election committee was sandbagged into nominating the officers for a second term.
to thwart or cause to fail or be rejected, especially surreptitiously or without warning: He sandbagged our proposal with his snide remarks to the boss.

Poker. to deceive (one or more opponents) into remaining in the pot by refraining from betting on a strong hand, then raising the bet in a later round.
Informal. to gain an advantage over (one or more competitors) by concealing one's abilities or other strengths early in a game or other competitive activity.
Informal. to gain an advantage by concealing or downplaying the strengths of (something): companies that sandbag their earnings estimates and then easily beat them to make everyone happy.

verb (used without object), sand·bagged, sand·bag·ging.

Poker. to sandbag one or more opponents.
Informal. to sandbag an opponent or competitor: guys that sandbag and fall back a little in the first race to get a better starting spot in the second.

Nearby words

sandal, sandalfoot, sandalwood, sandalwood island, sandarac, sandbag, sandbank, sandbar, sandblast, sandbox, sandbox tree

Origin of sandbag

First recorded in 1580–90; sand + bag

Related formssand·bag·ger, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sandbagged

Housing starts, which had been sandbagged by poor weather, leapt sharply.
The U.S. Economy Had a Hiccup, Not a Heart Attack, This Year|Daniel Gross|May 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Gallup Economic Confidence Index was sandbagged by the October government shutdown and debt-ceiling brinkmanship.
All Retailers Want for Christmas Is More Shoppers|Daniel Gross|December 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He made a highly illiquid bet on LightSquared, a wireless broadband company, that has sandbagged his fund and reputation.
In ‘Arbitrage,’ Richard Gere Shows How the Price Is Right|Daniel Gross|September 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
I had a vague idea that all American women wore red flannel shirts and bowie knives and that I might be sandbagged in the street!
McClure's Magazine, Vol 31, No 2, June 1908|Various

He might if he went to Chinatown and got sandbagged or something like that.
Three Young Ranchmen|Ralph Bonehill
"I have been sandbagged," he announced impressively, and proceeded to relate the night's adventure to his host.
The Devil's Paw|E. Phillips Oppenheim
Supposing I'd gone round, looking for another buyer, he'd have had me doped or sandbagged before I'd made the sale.
For the Allinson Honor|Harold Bindloss
Within six months, if you're not sandbagged or jailed on fake libel suits, you'll have a unique bibliography of swindles.
Average Jones|Samuel Hopkins Adams

British Dictionary definitions for sandbagged

sandbag

/ (ˈsændˌbæɡ) /

noun

a sack filled with sand used for protection against gunfire, floodwater, etc, or as ballast in a balloon, ship, etc

a bag filled with sand and used as a weapon

verb -bags, -bagging or -bagged (tr)

to protect or strengthen with sandbags

to hit with or as if with a sandbag

finance to obstruct (an unwelcome takeover bid) by prolonging talks in the hope that an acceptable bidder will come forward

Derived Formssandbagger, noun

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

Word Origin and History for sandbagged (1 of 2)

sandbag

1580s, from sand (n.) + bag (n.).

Word Origin and History for sandbagged (1 of 2)

sandbag

1860, "furnish with sandbags," from sandbag (n.). Meaning "pretend weakness," 1970s perhaps is extended from poker-playing sense of "refrain from raising at the first opportunity in hopes of raising more steeply later" (1940), which perhaps is from sandbagger in the sense of "bully or ruffian who uses a sandbag as a weapon to knock his intended victim unconscious" (1882). Hence "to fell or stun with a blow from a sandbag" (1887). Related: Sandbagged; sandbagging.

sandbag

noun

verb (used with object), sand·bagged, sand·bag·ging.

verb (used without object), sand·bagged, sand·bag·ging.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of sandbag

Examples from the Web for sandbagged

British Dictionary definitions for sandbagged

sandbag

noun

verb -bags, -bagging or -bagged (tr)

Word Origin and History for sandbagged (1 of 2)

sandbag

Word Origin and History for sandbagged (1 of 2)

sandbag