hold the bag
phrase
1
: to be left empty-handed
2
: to bear alone a responsibility that should have been shared by others
She was left holding the bag for their mistakes.
Cite this Entry
“Hold the bag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hold%20the%20bag. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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