grab bag

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A gift, purchase, etc. whose contents are concealed until after a selection is made

   A gift, purchase, etc. whose contents are concealed until after a selection is made; a bag as gift that comprises mystery prizes.

   • Winners can choose a gift from the grab bags on the table.
2. 2

   A bag from which a gift or prize may be withdrawn (grabbed) unseen.

3. 3

   Any random assortment, selection or possibility.

   • With that system, it's a grab bag which files we can find at any moment.
   • There were now a grab bag of southern country-rock units with a new wrinkle—Black Oak Arkansas, for one, combined psychedelia, fifties rock, Hindu spiritualism, and gospel into “psycho-boogie,” or “raunch 'n' roll.”
4. ›+ 2 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      A moderately large bag of crisps or other snack, suitable for sharing.

   2. 5

      A bag containing essential items, which can be easily picked up and taken in an emergency.

The neighborhood

• neighborgrab box
• neighborlet the cat out of the bag
• neighbormixed bag
• neighborblackball
• neighborlucky dip
• neighborpick 'n' mix
• neighborpig in a poke