brown bag

See also: brown-bag

English

Alternative forms

• brown-bag

Etymology

(presentation): From the brown paper bag traditionally used to carry one's own packed lunch from home.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

brown bag (plural brown bags)

2. A brown paper bag.
4. (idiomatic) A short presentation or seminar on a given subject, especially one given at lunchtime.

   Synonym: lunch-and-learn

   Did you attend the brown bag Tuesday on healthy exercise habits?

   • 1994 November 6, William Goss, “Interning For Pleasure And Profit”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN:

     So what student would choose to work in Washington for zero compensation, with benefits listed as "brown-bags," "farewell reception" and "athletic and service opportunities"?

Usage notes

Particularly in US English, paperbag and brown bag both appear in a variety of idiomatic expressions concerning butterfaces, people considered attractive apart from their face.

Derived terms

• brownbagger
• brown-bagger
• brown bag test, brown paper bag party

See also

• potluck

Verb

brown bag (third-person singular simple present brown bags, present participle brown bagging, simple past and past participle brown bagged)

1. To carry one's packed lunch from home, either literally or figuratively in a brown paper bag or a lunchbox, rather than purchase it from a cafeteria or restaurant.

   I'm brown bagging it again this month because the combination of healthy plus inexpensive is hard to beat otherwise.

2. To consume alcohol in public from the bottle or can, while it is held concealed inside a brown paper bag, so as to avoid attention e.g. from the police.

   I'm brown bagging it again today because I haven't managed to kick this habit yet.

3. (agriculture) To plant seed saved from one's own harvest, as opposed to buying new seed from a seed company.

   I'm brown bagging it again this year because I don't need to be spending money on expensive hybrids.

See also

• packaged goods
• package store