bag it up

Meanings

1. 1phrasephrasal verbinformal

   To put something into a bag or bags, especially in order to carry it away or store it.

   Grammar: Takes an object: bag it up. The object can go between 'bag' and 'up' (bag it up) or after 'up' (bag up the groceries), but pronouns must go in the middle: bag them up.

   Patterns

   • bag something up
   • bag up something
   • bag it up

   Please bag up the groceries before you leave the store.

   She bagged up all the old clothes and took them to the charity shop.

   The clerk bagged it up quickly and handed it to me.

2. 2phrasephrasal verb

   To cover or enclose something in a bag, often for protection or hygiene.

   Grammar: Often used in the passive: the items were bagged up. Also used with 'in': bagged up in plastic.

   Patterns

   • bag something up in something
   • be bagged up

   The evidence was bagged up and sent to the lab.

   He bagged up the sandwiches in paper bags for the picnic.

Common combinations

bag up the groceries

The cashier bagged up the groceries in reusable totes.

bag it up

Just bag it up and put it in the trunk.

bag up the leaves

We spent the afternoon bagging up the leaves from the yard.

bag up in plastic

The old photos were bagged up in plastic to keep them dry.

Synonyms and how they differ

pack

More general; you can pack a suitcase or pack a box, but 'bag up' specifically means putting things into a bag.

sack

Usually means to put into a large sack, often for bulk items; 'bag up' is more common for smaller quantities or shopping.

Opposites

Word family

bag noun

A container made of soft material, used for carrying things.

bagging noun

The act of putting things into bags.

Commonly confused: bag it up or bag it?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “bag it up”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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