feed bag

A horse wears a feed bag while eating oats.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A bag for animal feed: A "feed bag" is a bag, often made of canvas or similar material, that is hung around a horse's or other animal's muzzle to hold food, allowing the animal to eat without spilling the contents.
   • Slang for a meal: Informally, "feed bag" can refer to a meal or the act of eating, especially in the phrase "to put on the feed bag," meaning to eat a large or hearty meal.

Usage Examples

• Noun (literal):

  • The farmer placed the feed bag over the horse's nose before leaving it to eat. (The bag was used to hold the animal's food.)
  • Each stable had several feed bags ready for the horses. (Bags prepared for feeding animals.)

• Noun (slang):

  • I'm starving; let's go put on the feed bag at that new restaurant. (Let's go eat a meal.)
  • After the long hike, everyone was ready to put on the feed bag. (Everyone was ready to eat a large meal.)

Advanced Usage

• "to put on the feed bag": an idiomatic expression meaning to eat a substantial meal, often with enthusiasm.
  • We worked all morning, so it's time to put on the feed bag. (It's time to eat heartily.)
  • He put on the feed bag at the buffet and ate until he was full. (He ate a lot of food.)

Variants and Related Words

• Feedbag (n): a single-word variant of "feed bag," used interchangeably in both literal and slang contexts.
  • I need to grab a feedbag for the donkey. (A literal bag for animal feed.)
  • Let's get a feedbag after the game. (Slang for a meal.)

Synonyms

• Nosebag: a synonym for a literal feed bag, especially for horses.
  • The horse wore a nosebag filled with oats. (A bag for animal feed.)
• Chow down (verb phrase, slang): to eat a meal, similar to "put on the feed bag."
  • Let's chow down at the diner. (Let's eat a meal.)

Related Idioms

• Put on the feed bag: the only common idiom using "feed bag," meaning to eat a large meal.
  • After the ceremony, everyone put on the feed bag at the reception. (Everyone ate a hearty meal.)