brown-bag

American  

[broun-bag] / ˈbraʊnˈbæg /

verb (used with object)

brown-bagged, brown-bagging

1. to bring (one's own liquor) to a restaurant or club, especially one that has no liquor license.

2. to bring (one's lunch) to work or elsewhere, usually in a small brown paper bag.

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verb (used without object)

brown-bagged, brown-bagging

1. to carry one's lunch in a brown paper bag.

adjective

1. brought to work, usually in a small brown paper bag.

   a brown-bag lunch.

idioms

1. brown-bag it, to bring one's lunch to work or elsewhere, especially in a brown paper bag.

brown bag British  

noun

1. a bag made of brown paper, often used for carrying a packed lunch or alcohol

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verb

1. to take a packed lunch in a brown bag

2. to carry alcohol in a brown bag

Other Word Forms

• brown-bagger noun

Etymology

Origin of brown-bag

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Bologna sandwiches may be the easiest kid’s school lunch, but it’s not difficult to prepare brown-bag meals that parents can appreciate too.

From Washington Times • Aug. 22, 2023

During a brown-bag lunch with the junior staff, the senator stressed the importance of having an apolitical career before running for public office.

From Salon • Oct. 12, 2022

One advantage of remote work has been the many opportunities over the summer to attend brown-bag training sessions specifically for interns and newsroom-wide discussions, all held via Zoom.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 20, 2021

Pack a brown-bag dinner and a breakfast, too, she said, in case they had to wait and wait and wait even longer.

From Washington Post • Aug. 18, 2020

Mom chased after me, her housecoat pulled tight against the cold, and caught me just in time to hand me my brown-bag lunch.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam