carpetbagging

1 9.9

Seeking success, especially political office, in a place where you have no local ties

adjective
/ˈkɑːrpɪtˌbæɡɪŋ/

Offensive

: oportunista (despectivo)

The senator accused his rival of carpetbagging when he moved to the state just before the election.

Examples

Critics said her carpetbagging campaign showed little understanding of the community's true needs.
Many locals resented the carpetbagging businessman who arrived hoping to profit from the recent disaster.
His carpetbagging campaign angered many local voters.
Don't you think her carpetbagging tactics are unethical?
The senator accused his rival of carpetbagging when he moved to the state just before the election.
Critics said her carpetbagging campaign showed little understanding of the community's true needs.
Many locals resented the carpetbagging businessman who arrived hoping to profit from the recent disaster.

Surface Forms

carpetbagging positive

Morphology

carpetbagging = carpetbag (opaque) = carpet + bag + ing

Adding -ing to carpetbag is a regular way to form the activity noun or participial form.

Etymology

Carpetbagging comes from a real picture after the American Civil War, when people from the North came south carrying cheap travel carpet bags to hold their things. So carpetbagging now means 'seeking power or profit' in a place where you have no local ties.