To say that something is in the bag means that an outcome is virtually certain, secured, or guaranteed to succeed (e.g., “We scored three goals in the first half, so the game is in the bag.”).
While this is the primary meaning in modern English, the phrase historically carried a secondary slang meaning: to be completely drunk or intoxicated. Today, that alcohol-related usage has mostly survived in the variation half in the bag (meaning partially or fully drunk).
Origin of “In the Bag”
The modern sense of in the bag (meaning secured or guaranteed) originated in early 20th-century American English, likely stemming from hunting or game collecting:
- Game Bag Allusion: When a hunter shoots game and places it inside their hunting bag, that game is safely secured and can no longer escape. Thus, something that is “in the bag” is locked down and beyond doubt.
- Baseball Myth (1916 Giants): A popular urban legend claims the phrase came from the 1916 New York Giants, whose ball bag was carried off the field before the 9th inning when they were leading. However, newspaper archives show the idiom was already in widespread use prior to 1916, disproving the baseball origin.
The Intoxication Origin
The older, less common meaning of in the bag (meaning drunk) emerged in 19th-century slang, though its exact origin is unclear. Linguists speculate it may have referred to a person being “bagged” (trapped, immobilized, or wrapped up) by alcohol. While “in the bag” is rarely used for drunkenness today, it directly gave rise to the popular phrase half in the bag.
Movie and Television Citations
In film and television, screenwriters frequently use “in the bag” during scenes involving sports competitions, business deals, political elections, or heists to convey supreme confidence in a guaranteed victory:
- Toy Story 2 (1999): Woody reassures his friends that their escape plan is virtually guaranteed to succeed: “Don’t worry, guys! We’ve got this whole thing in the bag!”
- The Office (Season 3): Michael Scott confidently overestimates his negotiating skills during a business meeting: “I walked into that room, looked him in the eye, and I knew the deal was in the bag.”
- Ocean’s Eleven (2001): The team assesses the vault security system, discussing whether the heist is locked down: “You think we actually have a shot?” | “If the power grid goes down on schedule? It’s in the bag.”
- Moneyball (2011): Baseball executives discuss a streak of consecutive wins, warning against celebrating before the game officially finishes: “Never assume a game is in the bag until the 27th out is called.”
Sentence Examples
Guaranteed / Certain Success
- “After months of preparation and a flawless interview, she felt the job offer was in the bag.”
- “Don’t celebrate like the championship is in the bag when there’s still five minutes left on the clock!”
- “Once the lead candidate secured the final endorsement, the election was officially in the bag.”
Drunkenness (Historical / Rare Usage)
- “By midnight, half the guests at the tavern were completely in the bag.” (Note: Today, native speakers almost exclusively say half in the bag instead.)
Similar and Related Idioms
- Dead Certain: 100% sure about something without any shadow of a doubt.
- A Done Deal: A final agreement or arrangement that has been settled and cannot be changed.
- A Sure Thing: An outcome or investment that is guaranteed to succeed.
- Lock, Stock, and Barrel: Completely and entirely; including every single part.
- In the Can: Completed or successfully finished (originally referencing completed film footage stored in film cans).