holding the bag
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
In an awkward predicament, held responsible for faults committed by others.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “holding the bag” mean?
In an awkward predicament, held responsible for faults committed by others.
Is “holding the bag” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.