noun

sandbag

SAND-bag

noun

A sturdy bag filled with sand, used to build barriers against flooding or as protection from bullets and debris.

"Volunteers stacked sandbags along the riverbank ahead of the flood."

verb

To deliberately understate one's strength, ability, or intentions in order to gain an advantage.

"He sandbagged during practice so his opponents would underestimate him."

To build a barrier of sandbags around something.

"They sandbagged the shop entrance before the storm hit."

How to Use Sandbag

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA bag of sand used for flood or blast protection — or, as a verb, to secretly hold back your true ability to fool an opponent.

Common pairings

stack sandbags sandbag an opponent

sandbagged past tense, sandbags plural, sandbags singular

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Can you complete this real example?

Volunteers stacked _____ along the riverbank ahead of the flood.

A straightforward compound of "sand" and "bag."

handbag