Etymology Journal ยท I
In the bag
Meaning
- Used to describe something that is guaranteed to be a success or is already secured. You can stop worrying because the outcome is effectively locked in.
Confident, casual
Used in a sentence
- With a twenty point lead in the fourth quarter, the win is basically in the bag.
- Get those signatures finished and the deal is in the bag.
- I have practiced my speech ten times, so I know the presentation is in the bag.
The backstory
This likely comes from the world of hunting or sports, where a catch was safely secured in the game bag. It gained common usage in the early 20th century to refer to sure victories.
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