bachelor's handbag

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A roast chicken sold in a disposable plastic carry bag with a handle.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used Australian English

Examples

“Items such as the Bachelor’s Handbag, for example. To the casual observer, it’s just a roast chicken in a plastic bag from a supermarket. In our town, it’s an accessory. A status symbol.”

Quoted attestation: The Betoota Advocate (26 October 2021), Betoota-isms, Pan Macmillan Australia, →ISBN

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “bachelor's handbag” mean?

A roast chicken sold in a disposable plastic carry bag with a handle.

Is “bachelor's handbag” formal or informal?

bachelor's handbag is generally slang.