sandbag

[sand-bag]

noun

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

2. such a bag used as a weapon.

verb (used with object)

sandbagged, sandbagging 

1. to furnish with sandbags.

2. to hit or stun with a sandbag.

3. Informal.

   1. to set upon violently; attack from or as if from ambush.

   2. to coerce or intimidate, as by threats.

      The election committee was sandbagged into nominating the officers for a second term.

   3. 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.

4. 1. 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.

   2. 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.

   3. 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)

sandbagged, sandbagging 

1. 1. Poker.,  to sandbag one or more opponents.

   2. 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.

sandbag

/ ˈsændˌbæɡ /

noun

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

2. a bag filled with sand and used as a weapon

verb

1. to protect or strengthen with sandbags

2. to hit with or as if with a sandbag

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

Other Word Forms

• sandbagger noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sandbag¹

First recorded in 1580–90; sand + bag

Example Sentences

A twin-prop Chinook helicopter shatters the calm of the Dutch countryside, hovering just metres from a canal before dumping four huge sandbags into the water: welcome to Operation Cloudburst.

Read more on Barron's

She remembers spending hours that day filling sandbags for neighbours to take home and protect their properties.

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"We have sandbags around the doors and we have tied down the shutters to protect the windows."

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Residents are being told to secure their homes with sandbags and wooden boards, and to stock up on essentials.

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He said residents had shovelled the stones and gravel to make barriers along with the sandbags to protect their homes.

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Related Words

• cause 
• charge 
• compel 
• demand 
• drag 
• drive 
• impose 
• inflict 
• limit 
• make 
• move 
• oblige 
• order 
• press 
• pressure 
• require 
• restrict 
• urge