sand-bag

A worker places a sand-bag along the riverbank.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A bag filled with sand: "sand-bag" refers to a bag made of burlap, canvas, or similar material, filled with sand. It is commonly used as a temporary barrier for flood control, as ballast, as a weapon, or as a weight.
   • A protective barrier: In military or construction contexts, a "sand-bag" is used to build fortifications or to stabilize structures.

2. Verb:

   • To hit with a sandbag: To strike someone with a sandbag, often as a weapon or to render them unconscious.
   • To cheat or manipulate unfairly: In informal usage, "sand-bag" means to deceive, mislead, or unfairly pressure someone, especially in a negotiation or contest.
   • To delay or obstruct: To intentionally slow down progress or stall a process, often in business or political contexts.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The volunteers stacked sand-bags along the riverbank to prevent flooding. (Bags filled with sand used as a barrier.)
  • Soldiers used sand-bags to reinforce their bunker. (Bags used for military protection.)

• Verb:

  • The thief tried to sand-bag the guard from behind. (To hit with a sandbag as a weapon.)
  • During the debate, the politician attempted to sand-bag his opponent with misleading statistics. (To deceive or manipulate unfairly.)
  • The company is sand-bagging the project by withholding necessary resources. (To delay or obstruct intentionally.)

Advanced Usage

• "to sand-bag someone into doing something": to pressure or trick someone into taking a particular action.

  • They tried to sand-bag me into signing the contract by hiding the hidden fees. (They manipulated me unfairly into agreeing.)

• "to be sand-bagged": to be caught off guard or unfairly treated.

  • I felt completely sand-bagged when the rules changed at the last minute. (I was surprised and disadvantaged.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sandbag (n, also written as one word): Same meaning as "sand-bag," often used interchangeably.

  • We need more sandbags for the flood defense. (Same as sand-bags.)

• Sandbagger (n): A person who uses sandbags as a weapon or who deceives others.

  • He is a notorious sandbagger in poker games. (A player who misleads opponents.)

Synonyms

• Noun: , , .
• Verb: , (for physical hit); , , (for manipulation); , (for obstruction).

Phrasal Verbs

• Sand-bag out: To distribute or place sandbags in a specific area.

  • The crew sand-bagged out the entire perimeter before the storm. (They placed sandbags around the area.)

• Sand-bag up: To fill bags with sand.

  • We need to sand-bag up before the rain starts. (Fill bags with sand for use.)

Related Idioms

• "To carry a sandbag": To bear a heavy burden or responsibility.

  • As team leader, she feels like she's carrying a sandbag through the entire project. (She has a heavy load.)

• "To hit someone with a sandbag": To surprise or shock someone with unpleasant news.

  • The layoff announcement hit the employees like a sandbag. (It was a sudden, heavy blow.)