In the bag
Meaning
Used to describe something that is certain to be achieved or successfully completed.
Origin
The phrase 'in the bag' likely emerged from the exhilarating world of early 20th-century American sports, especially baseball. Imagine a team so far ahead that their victory was absolutely certain. Commentators and players would declare the game 'in the bag,' conjuring the vivid image of the win already packed away, secured like a trophy in a sports bag. This powerful sense of absolute certainty, of a task completed and locked down, quickly spread beyond the stadium, becoming a universal shorthand for anything successfully achieved and beyond doubt.
Examples
- After scoring three goals in the first half, the coach knew the game was pretty much in the bag.
- Don't celebrate too early; the deal isn't in the bag until the contracts are signed and sealed.