rag bag
1
7.1
- noun
- /ræɡ bæɡ/
- UK
- This project is just a rag bag of random ideas with no clear direction.
Examples
-
The discussion turned into a rag bag of opinions, making it hard to reach a consensus.
-
It's a whole rag bag of kind of leftist dream projects that are not going to come to pass.
-
But it's a, it's a real rag bag of processes within, within the plaque giving you this inflammatory process.
-
Her closet was a rag bag of clothes from different styles and eras.
Synonyms
23
4.6
A confused mixture of things or ideas
17
3.7
A group of things, people, or results with both good and bad parts
16
5.5
A confused situation that is hard to understand or solve
15
6.3
A group of different ideas or parts joined together that do not fit well
11
7.3
A messy mixture of different things thrown together
5
6.4
A confused mix of different things
1
7.9
A group of different small things like papers or photos
1
9.9
A confused mix of different things that do not fit together
1
9.9
A messy mixture of different things
1
8.7
A messy mixture of different things that do not fit together
1
7.1
A collection of different, unrelated items
1
9.9
A mixed collection of different things
1
9.9
A confused mix of different things like old toys and books
1
7.9
A state of confusion where things are unclear or messy
1
6.7
A mix of different ideas that do not form a clear whole
A mixed collection of different things, like essays, photos, or objects
A collection of different things chosen without planning
Antonyms
How Mixed
512
3.1
∞
1.0
- UK
1
7.1
11
7.3
- Literature
1
7.9
46
3.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
The literal sense 'a bag of rags' is directly composed from 'rag' + 'bag', so a B1 learner would likely infer a collection of miscellaneous items. However, the specific figurative nuance 'a confused mixture lacking order' is a metaphorical extension of the literal image and may not be fully predictable without prior exposure, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
The noun rag bag comes from the old habit of keeping a rag, or 'old cloth', in a bag for later use. Because the bag held many different scraps thrown together, rag bag now means 'a confused mixture of different things'.