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The Context

Important rules of job interviews:

A. Repeat to yourself: "It's not in the bag."

B. To answer the question, "What would you do?" think of the correct answer to "What should I do?" and give that as your response.

C. Laugh at their jokes, but don't offer your own.

Sarawut Positwinyu
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2 Answers2

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It means that they should not be over-confident; the job isn't theirs yet.

in the bag (informal) if something is in the bag, you are certain to get it or to achieve it

Once we'd scored the third goal, the match was pretty much in the bag.
Nobody knows who'll get the job, despite rumors that Keating has it in the bag.

etymology: c. 16th. century, from the (bird hunting) 'game bag', meaning not only had the game been hit, but also found, retrieved and was now safely and irrevocably on its eventual way to the table.

anongoodnurse
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  • Quibble: If it's in the bag, you have got or achieved it, rather than "you are certain to get it or to achieve it" –  Jan 30 '14 at 06:18
  • @andy256 - it can't be in the past tense if you're using it for an imminent achievement, for which this idiom is most commonly used. – anongoodnurse Jan 30 '14 at 06:20
  • So instead of a quibble, it turns out that I disagree with your answer. If something is in the bag, it has already happened, as explained by the etymology you quote :-) –  Jan 30 '14 at 06:30
  • @andy256 - I do see your point. You are correct that it is used for something just achieved. But it is used (or perhaps misused?) for anticipated events. Often. Knock on wood. ;) – anongoodnurse Jan 30 '14 at 06:39
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    A bird in the bag is worth two in the hand. – Edwin Ashworth Jan 30 '14 at 09:51
  • Your first sentence bothered me, and a site search led me to this earlier and as-yet unrecognised answer. What do you think? – FumbleFingers Jan 30 '14 at 14:40
  • So you agree the usage is at least "awkward"? Do you agree @Kris's analysis in that earlier answer, and if so did you upvote it? I think it's disappointing that what looks to me like the only relevant/correct answer there should have been passed over because too many voters are either ignorant or didn't understand the true nature of the question. – FumbleFingers Jan 30 '14 at 14:51
  • @FumbleFingers - I had not even read the question, much less all the answers to upvote anything whatsoever. You've lost me. Not truly interested in going through that entire thread just to upvote one poor soul. I wasn't even a member here in August when that was posted. – anongoodnurse Jan 30 '14 at 15:07
  • Fair enough. I guess we just have different perspectives. I'm not truly interested in answering trivial GR questions like this one - at most I just post a link to a definition while I'm closevoting. But I am interested in subtle aspects of "acceptable" usage that might flummox even competent native speakers. – FumbleFingers Jan 30 '14 at 15:31
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Just means that there is no certainty that the desired outcome is achieved.

user64037
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