Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense sandbags, present participle sandbagging, past tense, past participle sandbagged
1. countable noun
A sandbag is a cloth bag filled with sand. Sandbags are usually used to build walls for protection against floods or explosions.
2. verb
To sandbag something means to protect or strengthen it using sandbags.
They sandbagged their homes to keep out floods. [VERB noun]
sandbag in British English
(ˈsændˌbæɡ)
noun
1.
a sack filled with sand used for protection against gunfire, floodwater, etc, or as ballast in a balloon, ship, etc
2.
a bag filled with sand and used as a weapon
verbWord forms: -bags, -bagging or -bagged(transitive)
3.
to protect or strengthen with sandbags
4.
to hit with or as if with a sandbag
5. finance
to obstruct (an unwelcome takeover bid) by prolonging talks in the hope that an acceptable bidder will come forward
Derived forms
sandbagger (ˈsandˌbagger)
noun
sandbag in American English
(ˈsændˌbæg)
noun
1.
a bag filled with sand and used for ballast, in military fortifications, for levee protection against floods, etc.
2. US
a small, narrow bag filled with sand and used as a bludgeon
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈsandˌbagged or ˈsandˌbagging
3.
to place sandbags in or around
4. US
to strike or stun with a sandbag
5. US, Informal
to force into doing something
6. US, Slang
to deceive (an opponent), as by deliberately playing poorly
Derived forms
sandbagger (ˈsandˌbagger)
noun
Examples of 'sandbag' in a sentence
sandbag
They have also been filling thousands of sandbags.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The fighters are barricaded into positions with sandbags and are prepared to fight to the death.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
If we can remove a number of sandbags from this balloon it can go up a very long way.
The Sun (2007)
Most headed to York to protect houses with sandbags.
The Sun (2015)
Running carrying sandbags, sawing for an hour.
The Sun (2012)
It is a spat of little interest to anyone whose primary concern is to find more sandbags and put the piano on bricks.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In many villages, government troops are dug in behind sandbags and razor wire.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He promised amphibious vehicles to deliver supplies, manpower to fill sandbags and military expertise to help with logistics.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Terrified families who had been unable to flee piled up sandbags to protect their homes from the flood and nervously made victory signs when rebels approached.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I'll put the sandbags in my back garden and in front of my house.
The Sun (2014)
They spent 18 months digging out 200 tons of clay and using it to fill the sandbags.
The Sun (2014)
At the Unity Street crossroads sandbags have been put in place to protect the new police force.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The soldiers sometimes resorted to putting sandbags over the horses' eyes and ears, which seemed to help.