holding the bag

NOUN

responsibility

Synonyms

STRONGEST

authority burden duty guilt importance liability obligation power restraint trust

STRONG

albatross amenability answerability care charge constraint contract culpability encumbrance engagement fault incubus incumbency onus pledge rap subjection

WEAK

boundness obligatoriness

Antonyms

STRONGEST

irresponsibility

STRONG

benefit blessing

WEAK

distrust exemption freedom immaturity immunity

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Taxpayers will inevitably be left holding the bag.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

Yasushi Mieno External link was left holding the bag when the 1980s bubble economy imploded.

From Barron's • Dec. 17, 2025

But the optimism deflated significantly in recent weeks, as questions arose about whether Oracle’s customers could renege on these contracts and leave it holding the bag for billions in underutilized infrastructure.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 9, 2025

To the extent they were lured by the runup in crypto prices, they may be holding the bag just now.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 28, 2025

We took turns, one holding the bag while the other dodged about the furniture and up the stairs in pursuit.

From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson

holding the bag

Example Sentences

Related Words