The Village Idiom

brown bag

The idiom "brown bag" is often used to refer to bringing one's own packed lunch to work or school, usually in a brown paper bag. It is a symbol of frugality or simplicity, and can also imply a lack of social status or sophistication.

Food & drink · Filed under B

In a sentence

  • He always brings his lunch in a brown bag.
  • The company decided to brown bag the meeting due to budget cuts.
  • Let's have a brown bag lunch and discuss our ideas for the project.

Where it comes from and how it is used

The idiom "paper bag" shares a similar association with the act of bringing one's lunch to work or school. In this case, the lunch is often packed in a paper bag instead of a brown bag. The use of a paper bag may be preferred for various reasons, such as availability or personal preference. Regardless of the type of bag used, the idiom underscores the practice of packing a lunch and bringing it along.

On the other hand, the idiom "bag of bones" has a different connotation. It is often used to describe a person or animal who appears thin, weak, or emaciated. The use of "bag" in this context emphasizes the lack of substance or flesh, likening the individual or creature to a mere skeleton within a bag. This idiom is often used figuratively to comment on someone's physical condition or overall health.

Know an earlier use or a better origin story?Tell us.