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holding the bag

Looking stupid, caught out, stood up etc.
See: the bag
"Nobody leaves Diamond Joe Quimby holding the bag!"
by Ningram May 2, 2005
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holding the bag

A person who is said to be "holding the bag" is the person the blame is lumped on for doing something usually a group of people partook in. The person who is left holding the bag is generally the scapegoat.

The term "holding the bag" is not used as widely as it was 20 years ago.
Some kids are stealing candy from the grocery store and are stuffing it in a backpack. As the manager comes each kid furiously tries to hand the backpack to one another so they are not the one caught with the evidence. The kid who ends up with the backpack while the other kids scamper has been left holding the bag. (literally! and I suspect this type of scenario is where the term was derived from originally)
by Allegra P. July 22, 2006
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An addict or recovering addict who swears he/she is clean and will remain clean. However, they spend the rest of their lives, or a significant portion, "holding a corner of the bag" just in case they might need it (rather than getting as far away from it as possible)

Could be an alcoholic holding the corner of the bar or bottle
(any addict who stays close to their former addiction)
Yeah, I'm clean for six months, it's just my dealer happens to be my close friend.

I no longer drink, that has ruined so many years of my life, but those guys in the bar are great friends, so I spend my weekend nights there socially.

I'm not in a gang any longer. My old buddies in the Savage Skulls are still thugs, but I hang out with them just for old times sake.

Addicts waste years holding the corner of the bag when they should RUN as fast as they can from that bag.
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run off and leave him NOT holding the bag

To not only skip out on your partner in crime so dat he gets da blame for your "combined" transgressions, but you also abscond with whatever ill-gotten booty dat said hapless cohort helped you to "acquire"!
In da "Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn" tale, da King and da Duke had both secretly planned to bilk da other out of da sack of gold --- i.e., each one of said selfish 'n' shameless shysters possessed da classic "no honor among thieves" mindset, and thus was going to pull da disgraceful "run off and leave him NOT holding the bag" on his unwitting accomplice!
by QuacksO January 18, 2025
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