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SuperESL Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Sandbag
What does one usually mean when using 'sandbag' as a verb colloquially?
I've looked it up in different dictionaries and come up with a variety of meanings:
(finance) to obstruct (an unwelcome takeover bid) by prolonging talks in the hope that an acceptable bidder will come forward
(North American) coerce or bully: "he was trying to sandbag me into attempting one of his leg-snapping climbs"
2 [+ obj] chiefly US, informal : to hit (someone) with a sandbag — usually used figuratively to describe treating or criticizing someone unfairly ? "He would have won the election but he got sandbagged by the media."
3 US, informal : to hide your true abilities or purpose in order to deceive people, gain an advantage, etc. [no obj] ? "He claimed he was playing badly because of an injury, but I think he was sandbagging." [+ obj] ?
How common is each of these usages in daily use? Thank you.
I've looked it up in different dictionaries and come up with a variety of meanings:
(finance) to obstruct (an unwelcome takeover bid) by prolonging talks in the hope that an acceptable bidder will come forward
(North American) coerce or bully: "he was trying to sandbag me into attempting one of his leg-snapping climbs"
2 [+ obj] chiefly US, informal : to hit (someone) with a sandbag — usually used figuratively to describe treating or criticizing someone unfairly ? "He would have won the election but he got sandbagged by the media."
3 US, informal : to hide your true abilities or purpose in order to deceive people, gain an advantage, etc. [no obj] ? "He claimed he was playing badly because of an injury, but I think he was sandbagging." [+ obj] ?
How common is each of these usages in daily use? Thank you.
Top answer
I cannot speak for my friends in USA, but I am a well educated British person and have never heard this word used as a verb.
- I cannot speak for my friends in USA, but I am a well educated British person and have never heard this word used as a verb.
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2 Answers
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I cannot speak for my friends in USA, but I am a well educated British person and have never heard this word used as a verb.
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I had forgotten about the third definition. I've read it, but I don't see it used often.
I see the second definition a bit, but almost always in the passive: He was sandbagged.
I'm not familiar with that first one.
I see the second definition a bit, but almost always in the passive: He was sandbagged.
I'm not familiar with that first one.
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