brown-bag

[ broun-bag ]

verb (used with object)

, brown-bagged, brown-bag·ging.

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.

verb (used without object)

, brown-bagged, brown-bag·ging.

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.

brown bag

noun

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

verb

1. to take a packed lunch in a brown bag
2. to carry alcohol in a brown bag

Other Words From

• brown-bagger noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of brown-bag¹

First recorded in 1955–60

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

Example Sentences

Over the last year I have dined with our Brown Bag Sommelier and he has prepared some tastings for our dining group.

From The Daily Beast

Madame Querterot, having finished her massaging, was repacking the brown bag in which she had brought her apparatus.

From Project Gutenberg

Its body has now become as large as a pea; in the attacked skin a large brown bag containing matter is formed.

From Project Gutenberg

Mary Louise turned on her flashlight and looked at the small brown bag beside them.

From Project Gutenberg

He was carrying a package in a sort of a heavy brown bag, heavier than a grocery bag it looked to me.

From Project Gutenberg

The gentleman with the little brown bag stood and looked sharply at me, but with friendly if penetrating eyes.

From Project Gutenberg