brown-bag: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1informal (mainly AmE), corporate/business
Quick answer
What does “brown-bag” mean?
To bring one's own homemade food, especially lunch, to work or an event in a small, plain bag, often a brown paper bag.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To bring one's own homemade food, especially lunch, to work or an event in a small, plain bag, often a brown paper bag.
It can refer to the activity of bringing one's own food or drink to a place where it would normally be sold, often to save money. It can also describe a meeting where participants bring and eat their own packed lunches, or a presentation with an informal, economical character.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is overwhelmingly American. The practice and concept exist in the UK, but the specific lexical item is not standard. Brits would use phrases like 'bring a packed lunch', 'bring your own', or the acronym BYO (Bring Your Own).
Connotations
In the US: Neutral-to-positive connotations of practicality, health-consciousness, or frugality. In the UK: The term is not used, so its connotations are irrelevant; the practice itself may have similar associations but is not lexicalised with 'brown-bag'.
Frequency
Common in American English, especially in workplace contexts. Very rare to non-existent in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “brown-bag” in a Sentence
[NP] brown-bag [NP] (e.g., She brown-bagged her lunch)[NP] brown-bag ita brown-bag [N] (e.g., a brown-bag meeting)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “brown-bag” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not used) He always brings a packed lunch to save money.
American English
- She decided to brown-bag her lunch instead of ordering takeout.
- Let's just brown-bag it and eat in the park.
adverb
British English
- (Not used)
American English
- (Not used)
adjective
British English
- (Not used) They held an informal lunchtime meeting.
American English
- We have a brown-bag meeting with the director at noon.
- The university hosts weekly brown-bag seminars for graduate students.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to informal, no-frills meetings where participants eat their own brought lunches. E.g., 'We'll have a brown-bag session to discuss the budget.'
Academic
Can describe informal, lunchtime seminars or talks. E.g., 'The department hosts brown-bag lectures every Friday.'
Everyday
Used to describe the act of bringing homemade food to work/school instead of buying it. E.g., 'I'm trying to save money, so I brown-bag it most days.'
Technical
Not used in technical registers.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brown-bag”
- Using it as a standard term in British English.
- Thinking it only applies to lunch (it can apply to other meals or drinks).
- Using it without the hyphen when used attributively (e.g., 'a brown bag meeting' is less standard than 'a brown-bag meeting').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While most commonly associated with lunch, the verb can apply to any meal brought from home to avoid buying it elsewhere (e.g., brown-bagging dinner to a night class).
No, it's a conceptual term. You can 'brown-bag' using a lunchbox, Tupperware, or any container. The term originates from the classic American image of a lunch in a brown paper sack.
It is generally neutral or positive, suggesting practicality, frugality, and informality. However, in some corporate contexts, a 'brown-bag meeting' might be seen as implying the company is cutting corners.
A 'brown-bag' refers to individuals bringing food for themselves only. A 'potluck' is a communal meal where each person brings a dish to be shared by everyone.
To bring one's own homemade food, especially lunch, to work or an event in a small, plain bag, often a brown paper bag.
Brown-bag is usually informal (mainly ame), corporate/business in register.
Brown-bag: in American English it is pronounced /ˈbraʊn ˌbæɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “brown-bag it”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a classic cartoon character with a lunch tied in a **brown bag** on a stick, going to work. The image encapsulates bringing a simple, portable meal.
Conceptual Metaphor
FRUGALITY/INFORMALITY IS A BROWN PAPER BAG (The plain, disposable bag represents a rejection of commercial expense and formality).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'brown-bag' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?