handbag
gb/hˈændbˌæɡ/ us/hˈændbˌæɡ/
A2
Anglais
Sens
0 sens
Nom
A2
entity
1
small bag for personal items
a small bag that you carry in your hand or on your arm
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] carries [a handbag]; [someone] puts [something] in [their] handbag
Erreur fréquente :
In American English, purse is often used for the same thing; handbag is especially common in British English. Also, it is usually written as one word (handbag).
Synonymes
purse (Common American English word for a handbag.)
|
pocketbook (American English; can mean handbag, though it may sound old-fashioned in some places.)
|
bag (More general; not specifically a small personal bag.)
Antonymes
backpack (A bag carried on the back rather than in the hand.)
|
briefcase (A structured case typically used for work documents.)
Collocations
carry a handbag
|a leather handbag
|a designer handbag
|a small handbag
|a black handbag
|a handbag strap
|a handbag handle
|rummage in your handbag
|leave your handbag
|a handbag full of (things)
Thèmes
daily_life
|fashion
|shopping
|travel
Exemples
- She put her phone back in her handbag and headed for the door.
- I left my handbag on the chair and someone took it.
- He bought her a new handbag for her birthday.
Exemples pédagogiques
- My keys are in my handbag.
- She has a red handbag.
Verbe
informal
C1
action
2
hit someone with a handbag
to hit someone with a handbag
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] handbags [someone]
Erreur fréquente :
This verb use is much less common than the noun and can sound humorous or British.
Synonymes
hit (More general; does not specify the object used.)
|
whack (Informal; suggests a quick, forceful hit.)
Antonymes
hug (Shows affection rather than physical aggression.)
|
protect (Acts to keep someone safe rather than harm them.)
Collocations
handbag someone
|handbag attack
|get handbagged
|handbag him on the head
|handbag her in the face
Thèmes
conflict
|daily_life
Exemples
- She handbagged him when he tried to grab her purse.
- A furious passenger reportedly handbagged the man who pushed in line.
Exemples pédagogiques
- She handbagged the thief.
Verbe
informal
C1
action
3
criticize forcefully (British usage)
to strongly criticize someone in public
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] handbags [someone] (over [something])
Erreur fréquente :
This is a figurative use; it does not mean a real handbag is involved.
Synonymes
reprimand (More formal and neutral; less vivid.)
|
tear into (Informal; emphasizes aggressive verbal criticism.)
|
dress down (Often workplace-focused; suggests a stern telling-off.)
Antonymes
praise (Expresses approval rather than criticism.)
|
back up (Supports someone rather than attacking them.)
Collocations
handbag someone over (something)
|handbagging by (a leader)
|handbag a minister
|handbag a colleague
|get handbagged in a meeting
Thèmes
politics
|communication
|conflict
Exemples
- The prime minister handbagged her own party over the leaked report.
- He was handbagged in the meeting for missing the deadline.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The manager handbagged him for being late.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
handbag
API
GB/hˈændbˌæɡ/
US/hˈændbˌæɡ/
Syllabes et accentuation
hand - bag (2 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (hand)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: handbag
- Plural: handbags
Famille de mots
Expressions
handbags at dawn
1/hˈændbˌæɡz ˈæt dˈɔn/
idiom
informal
petty quarrel between women
used to say two women are going to argue
Exemples
- When they saw each other at the reunion, it was handbags at dawn within minutes.
- Put them on the same project and it’s handbags at dawn every week.