carrier bag
1
1.7
- noun
- /ˈkæriə bæg/
- UK
:
bolsa de compras
- carrier bag full
They gave me an outfit they bought me that was in an old carrier bag and I looked at it all creased on the bed.
- They gave me an outfit they bought me that was in an old carrier bag and I looked at it all creased on the bed.
Examples
-
In one hand, she also had a carrier bag, and in the other, a large tape player.
Fiction book (1990) -
They were drinking the tea when Henry returned, his carrier bag bulging with goodies.
Fiction book (1990) -
A tall fir tree with its bulbs burned out stands guard outside the Off-Licence, while a man with a carrier bag full of booze unlocks his red car door.
Fiction book (2000) -
She placed her groceries in a carrier bag to carry them home.
-
He handed the carrier bag to me, filled with fresh produce from the market.
-
After shopping, I always remember to bring my reusable carrier bag with me.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A flexible container for carrying personal things like books or clothes
117
1.0
A large bag made of paper, plastic or cloth for carrying things
77
1.0
A thin bag made of plastic for carrying or storing things
42
1.0
A bag made of paper that shops use to carry things you buy
40
4.1
A large strong bag for carrying things like books or groceries
14
1.0
A bag, usually plastic or thick paper with handles, used to carry things after shopping
12
1.8
A large strong cloth container with two long handles for carrying books or shopping
11
1.0
A paper or plastic container people use to carry food and other items from a store
1
9.9
A small paper or plastic bag for carrying goods
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
carrier + bag
The meaning is directly compositional: 'carrier' (one that carries) + 'bag' (a portable container) yields a bag used for carrying purchases. This straightforward noun–noun compounding follows common cross-linguistic patterns (compare 'shopping bag' / equivalents) and would be inferable by a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.
Etymology
The name carrier bag comes from the simple picture of a bag that 'carries' your shopping. Shops gave customers a carrier, a bag to 'carry' things home, so today carrier bag means the paper or plastic bag you get at a shop.