Sandbag (Verb)
Meaning 1
Treat harshly or unfairly.
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- The company tried to sandbag the competition by driving down prices to unsustainable levels.
- Local residents felt the new development would sandbag them by flooding the area with tourists.
- They sandbagged the project and presented inflated estimates to get more funding.
- Environmental groups claimed the government had sandbagged them on a deal to save the area from industrialization.
- Opponents claimed the review was written to sandbag the artist after they spoke out against the institution.
Meaning 2
Hit something or somebody as if with a sandbag.
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- The huge man seemed to sandbag his opponent, sending him crashing to the floor with a single punch.
- A heavily intoxicated patron stumbled into the street only to be sandbagged by a group of rowdy teenagers.
- His attacker sandbagged him from behind, knocking him unconscious instantly.
- As the boxer swung his massive fist, it felt like being sandbagged, only the impact was slower and far more agonizing.
- When he least expected it, a stranger jumped out and sandbagged him in a dark alleyway near the park.
Synonyms
Related Words
Meaning 3
Downplay one's ability (towards others) in a game in order to deceive, as in gambling.
Classification
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.
Examples
- The chess player sandbagged in the early rounds to lure his opponents into underestimating him.
- By sandbagging his skills, the poker player managed to deceive his competitors into making reckless bets.
- Many gamers accuse their opponents of sandbagging to gain a psychological advantage before the real competition begins.
- The pool shark sandbagged throughout the tournament, making poor shots on purpose to conceal his exceptional skill.
- He would often sandbag in friendly games to make his friends overconfident before beating them decisively.
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 4
Protect or strengthen with sandbags; stop up; "The residents sandbagged the beach front".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The city sandbagged the riverbank to prevent erosion from the floodwaters.
- They sandbagged the entrance to prevent water from entering the building.
- The residents sandbagged the beach front in preparation for the hurricane.
- The workers sandbagged the road to reroute traffic during construction.
- The firefighters sandbagged the door to make sure the fire didn't spread.
Related Words
Meaning 5
Compel by coercion, threats, or crude means; "They sandbagged him to make dinner for everyone".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- They sandbagged him to make him confess to the crime.
- The union officials sandbagged workers who refused to participate in the strike.
- Her boss sandbagged her into taking on extra responsibilities.
- The company sandbagged the investors into buying more shares.
- His friends sandbagged him into attending the party despite his reluctance.