Meaning & use
Jiffy bag
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountableBritishtrademark
A padded envelope, typically lined with bubble wrap, used for mailing small items.
Grammar: Countable noun: you can say a Jiffy bag, two Jiffy bags, etc.
Patterns
- in a Jiffy bag
- send something in a Jiffy bag
I packed the earrings in a Jiffy bag and posted them.
The books arrived in a Jiffy bag, so they weren't damaged.
Word forms
| plural | Jiffy bags |
|---|
Common combinations
- padded envelope
- She used a padded envelope instead of a Jiffy bag.
- bubble mailer
- The seller shipped the item in a bubble mailer.
- send something in a Jiffy bag
- Please send the documents in a Jiffy bag.
- pack something in a Jiffy bag
- He packed the fragile vase in a Jiffy bag.
Synonyms and how they differ
- padded envelope
- The general term; Jiffy bag is a specific brand name often used for any padded envelope in the UK.
- bubble mailer
- Common in US English; it specifically has a bubble-wrap lining.
Commonly confused: Jiffy bag or jiffy?
Jiffy bag vs jiffy
Jiffy means a very short moment (e.g., 'in a jiffy'), not a bag. Jiffy bag is a compound noun.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'Jiffy bag' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A Jiffy bag is a padded envelope, so you can tear one open to get what's inside. 'In a Jiffy bag' means inside such an envelope, not 'soon' (that would be 'in a jiffy'). 'Jiffy bagged' is not a verb, and a Jiffy bag is not a car.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Jiffy bag”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.