SANDBAG (sandbagged, sandbagging)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: sandbagged    , sandbagging   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sandbag mean? 

• SANDBAG (noun)
  The noun SANDBAG has 1 sense:

1. a bag filled with sand; used as a weapon or to build walls or as ballast

  Familiarity information: SANDBAG used as a noun is very rare.

• SANDBAG (verb)
  The verb SANDBAG has 5 senses:

1. treat harshly or unfairly

2. compel by coercion, threats, or crude means

3. hit something or somebody as if with a sandbag

4. downplay one's ability (towards others) in a game in order to deceive, as in gambling

5. protect or strengthen with sandbags; stop up

  Familiarity information: SANDBAG used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SANDBAG (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A bag filled with sand; used as a weapon or to build walls or as ballast

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("sandbag" is a kind of...):

bag (a flexible container with a single opening)

Derivation:

sandbag (protect or strengthen with sandbags; stop up)

sandbag (hit something or somebody as if with a sandbag)

• SANDBAG (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they sandbag    ... he / she / it sandbags   
Past simple: sandbagged   
Past participle: sandbagged   
-ing form: sandbagging   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Treat harshly or unfairly

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "sandbag" is one way to...):

wrong (treat unjustly; do wrong to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Compel by coercion, threats, or crude means

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

dragoon; railroad; sandbag

Context example:

They sandbagged him to make dinner for everyone

Hypernyms (to "sandbag" is one way to...):

coerce; force; hale; pressure; squeeze (to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody into V-ing something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Hit something or somebody as if with a sandbag

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

sandbag; stun

Hypernyms (to "sandbag" is one way to...):

hit (deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

sandbag (a bag filled with sand; used as a weapon or to build walls or as ballast)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Downplay one's ability (towards others) in a game in order to deceive, as in gambling

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "sandbag" is one way to...):

misinform; mislead (give false or misleading information to)

"Sandbag" entails doing...:

downplay; minimise; minimize; understate (represent as less significant or important)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

sandbagger (someone who deceives you about his true nature or intent in order to take advantage of you)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Protect or strengthen with sandbags; stop up

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

The residents sandbagged the beach front

Hypernyms (to "sandbag" is one way to...):

strengthen (gain strength)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

sandbag (a bag filled with sand; used as a weapon or to build walls or as ballast)

 Context examples 

His head had been smashed to pulp by heavy blows of a sandbag or some such instrument, which had crushed rather than wounded.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)