sandbag
sandbag Lexical Profile
sandbag Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A bag filled with sand, typically used as a temporary fortification, to prevent floodwaters from advancing, or as ballast.
"Volunteers worked through the night to build a wall of sandbags against the rising river."
A small bag filled with sand used as a weapon to stun or strike someone without leaving a severe bruise.
"In the old detective novel, the thug used a sandbag to knock the night watchman unconscious."
• verb
To protect, fortify, or weigh down a structure or area using bags filled with sand.
"The city council ordered emergency crews to sandbag the vulnerable levees before the hurricane made landfall."
To deliberately underperform or conceal one's true abilities or strengths in order to gain an unexpected advantage (especially in games, sports, or negotiations).
"The golfer was accused of sandbagging during the qualifying rounds to secure a higher handicap for the final tournament."
To hit or stun someone from behind using a sandbag, or by extension, to aggressively and unexpectedly ambush someone.
"The lawyer felt sandbagged by the opposing counsel's sudden introduction of unshared evidence at the trial."
Word Nuance & Usage
As a verb, 'sandbag' is frequently used in competitive contexts to describe the deceptive tactic of deliberately underperforming to secure a lower handicap or future advantage, distinct from simply failing.
• Rhymes for sandbag
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Originated in the mid-19th century as a compound of 'sand' and 'bag'. The metaphorical verb sense 'to deceive by underperforming' or 'to ambush' arose in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, derived from the criminal practice of stealthily striking victims from behind with a small sandbag used as a weapon.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.