Definition of 'sandbagging'

Larry Chanin · Sep 5, 2012

SCW-Greg said:
Oh hey Larry, I think you took my earlier post in a negative light. I actually meant the word "sand-bagging" in a positive way... you know when you're playing golf with a guy who claims he hasn't played in years, and the next thing you know, you discover he's a "scratch" golfer.

Now I see how you were looking at it, as I thought your response was a little odd when I first read it.

You'll find I'm one of the most optimistic, faithful to Elon and crew here. Call me an objective, logical, yet a fanboy. Any verbiage from me that comes across differently - we'll blame on my bad choice of words.

Hi Greg,

Thanks for the clarification.

I unfortunately have never associated "sandbagging" in a positive way. Here's how Dictionary.com puts it:

sand·bag
verb, sand·bagged, sand·bag·ging.
noun
1. a bag filled with sand, used in fortification, as ballast, etc.
2. such a bag used as a weapon.
3. to furnish with sandbags.
4. to hit or stun with a sandbag.
5. Informal .

a. to set upon violently; attack from or as if from ambush.

b. to coerce or intimidate, as by threats: The election committee was sandbagged into nominating the officers for a second term.

c. to thwart or cause to fail or be rejected, especially surreptitiously or without warning: He sandbagged our proposal by snide remarks to the boss.

6. Poker . to deceive (one or more opponents) into remaining in the pot by refraining from betting on a strong hand, then raising the bet in a later round.

Larry

grisnjam · Sep 5, 2012

Larry Chanin said:
6. Poker . to deceive (one or more opponents) into remaining in the pot by refraining from betting on a strong hand, then raising the bet in a later round.

That is how I normally think of sandbagging, interesting there are so many other meanings.

shokunin · Sep 5, 2012

Since I'm in sales, "sand-bagging" is commonly used as a "under-promise/commit" and out of nowhere, overdeliver. It's the out-of-nowhere component that drives the sand-bagging part.

Robert.Boston · Sep 5, 2012

At the risk of continuing the off-topic wandering, on the Phrase Finder bulletin board, someone offers this story (which matches what I thought I knew of the origin of "to sandbag"):

I have also encountered the term used in the context of "ambush" - sort of the idea in the poker explanation. I was formerely active in theater, and there is an interesting explanation of the term that is common among actors.

On true working stages, where backdrops are "flown" - attached to ropes so they can be lifted up and down as required, the unused ropes being weighted with sandbags for easy retrieval.

It is a common exercize of actors to practice their "blocking" - position and movement that they do while delivering their lines. Thus, an actor might be expected to be on the stage before or in-between shows. Eager understudies were said to wait on the catwalks above the stage to try to drop a sandbag on the lead actor so they could have a chance to perform. Another explanation was that an actor who had a grudge against a fellow actor would drop a sandbag as a warning.

Whether the true meaning of the term or not - the story is rather charming.

Arnold Panz · Sep 5, 2012

That's a terrible definition on Dictionary.com. I play golf and poker, and you hear the term used every day on the golf course, and I don't know that I've ever heard it at the poker tables. For a golfer, it means artificially inflating your handicap so that you are able to win a match or tournament by "sandbagging" with a handicap much higher than your level of play. At any member-guest tournament, pretty much any time a guest with a handicap greater than single digits hits a nice shot or putt they are accused of sandbagging or being a sandbagger.

ItsNotAboutTheMoney · Sep 5, 2012

Arnold Panz said:
That's a terrible definition on Dictionary.com. I play golf and poker, and you hear the term used every day on the golf course, and I don't know that I've ever heard it at the poker tables. For a golfer, it means artificially inflating your handicap so that you are able to win a match or tournament by "sandbagging" with a handicap much higher than your level of play. At any member-guest tournament, pretty much any time a guest with a handicap greater than single digits hits a nice shot or putt they are accused of sandbagging or being a sandbagger.

Similarly, I was familiar with its use in bowling. Sandbagger was whispered of only a few players in the leagues I bowled in.

Brian H · Sep 6, 2012

One origin story is from soap box derbies, hiding a sandbag in your car to get a favourable start position during qualifying, and draining or dumping it during the real race.

arg · Sep 7, 2012

The Oxford English Dictionary's entry is somewhat interesting.

For the noun sandbag it gives:

A bag filled with sand for use:
.... 3. as a weapon to inflict a heavy blow without leaving a mark ....

And as a verb it gives:

1. barricade or defend. 2. place sandbags against a window, chink etc. 3. fell with a blow from a sandbag. 4. (N.America) coerce by harsh means.

I had always assumed that the modern use for 'take by surprise' (golf etc. examples earlier in this thread) related to definition 3 - the use by historical criminals/military to sneak up on someone and kill them silently.
The OED's idea of North American usage doesn't seem to be up-to-date on how you guys actually use the term.
I had always assumed that the modern use of 'sandbagging' to

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Definition of 'sandbagging'

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