Handbags

[hand-bag] /ˈhændˌbæg/

noun
1.
a or box of leather, fabric, plastic, or the like, held in the or carried by means of a handle or strap, commonly used by women for holding money, toilet articles, small purchases, etc.
2.
.
/ˈhændˌbæɡz/
plural noun
1.
(facetious) an incident in which people, esp sportsmen, fight or threaten to fight, but without real intent to inflict harm (esp in the phrases handbags at dawn, handbags at twenty paces, etc)
/ˈhændˌbæɡ/
noun
1.
Also called bag, (US and Canadian) purse, (chiefly US) pocketbook. a woman’s small bag carried to contain personal articles
2.
a small suitcase that can be carried by hand
3.
a commercial style of House music
plural noun

a harmless altercation; trouble; also called handbag situation
Examples

When they discover we’ve spent the Christmas savings, it’s going to be handbags.
Word Origin

abbr. of handbags at dawn
Usage Note

British slang
n.

also hand-bag, 1854, from hand (n.) + bag (n.).

Read Also:

Handbags at dawn
noun See handbag situation See handbags at ten paces
Handbags at ten paces
noun a weak but theatrical confrontation, harmless altercation; a verbal spat resembling a duel; also called handbags at dawn , handbag situation Examples What’s it to be, handbags at twenty paces? Word Origin 1987
Handbag situation
noun a weak but theatrical confrontation, harmless altercation; also called handbags at dawn See handbags at ten paces plural noun See handbags Word Origin imitation of women fighting with handbags

Handbarrow
[hand-bar-oh] /ˈhændˌbær oʊ/ noun 1. a frame with handles at each end by which it is carried. 2. a handcart. /ˈhændˌbærəʊ/ noun 1. a flat tray for transporting loads, usually carried by two men
Handbasket
[hand-bas-kit, -bah-skit] /ˈhændˌbæs kɪt, -ˌbɑ skɪt/ noun 1. a small with a handle for carrying by . Idioms 2. go to hell in a handbasket, to degenerate quickly and decisively: The economy has gone to hell in a handbasket. Related Terms go to hell in a handbasket