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

Recalling the birth of the program, he said in the 2018 interview that he had asked his bailiff to call six or seven people in the community who might be interested in meeting over a brown-bag lunch to discuss his notion.

From New York Times

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

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

The event seemed like a natural fit for GatherDC, which held a brown-bag lunch for Yom Kippur in 2015 for people who had to work — another prohibited act on the holiday — and would be taking a break to eat.

From Washington Post

I wave back but set down my brown-bag lunch next to Dana.

From Literature