Ask Difference

Biddy vs. Bag — What's the Difference?

Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 5, 2024
Biddy refers to an old woman, often used pejoratively, while bag is a container for holding or carrying items.
Biddy vs. Bag — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Biddy and Bag

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Key Differences

Biddy, originally a diminutive form of the name Bridget, has evolved in colloquial use to refer to an old woman, typically in a derogatory manner, suggesting nagging or fussiness. On the other hand, a bag is a flexible container made of cloth, plastic, leather, or paper, designed to hold, store, or carry items, varying in size, shape, and purpose.
The term biddy can carry negative connotations, reflecting stereotypes about elderly women, whereas the term bag is neutral, focusing purely on the object's function. Biddy is used in social contexts to describe a certain behavior or demeanor, while a bag is used in everyday life for practical purposes, such as carrying groceries or personal items.
Both terms have additional meanings and uses beyond their primary ones. For example, "biddy" can also refer to a young chicken, particularly a hen, in certain dialects. In contrast, "bag" can have metaphorical meanings, such as capturing or securing something, e.g., "bagging a deal."
While biddy's usage is declining due to its derogatory implications and the growing awareness of ageism, the use of bag continues to expand with the development of new materials and designs, reflecting changes in fashion, sustainability, and technology.
The discussion of biddy versus bag highlights the contrast between a term with potentially offensive social implications and a universally understood, utilitarian object. It underscores the importance of context, sensitivity, and evolving language use in contemporary discourse.
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Comparison Chart

Definition

A derogatory term for an old woman.
A container for holding or carrying items.

Connotation

Negative, implying nagging or fussiness.
Neutral, focused on function.

Use

Descriptive, often pejorative, in social contexts.
Practical, for storage or transport of items.

Alternative Meanings

Can refer to a young chicken in some dialects.
Metaphorical uses, like securing something.

Cultural Relevance

Declining use due to awareness of ageism.
Evolving with fashion, sustainability, and technology.

Compare with Definitions

Biddy

Informally, a hen or young chicken.
The farmer's biddies were roaming freely in the yard.

Bag

A container made of flexible material with an opening at the top.
She packed her groceries into a reusable bag.

Biddy

A pejorative term for an elderly woman.
The noisy neighbor was unfairly labeled a biddy by those who didn't know her well.

Bag

Used for carrying personal items.
His laptop bag was stylish yet functional.

Biddy

Used to denote fussiness or nagging.
He dismissed her concerns as those of a biddy, which was unfair.

Bag

A term in sports for capturing or achieving something.
The player bagged the winning goal in the last minute.

Biddy

A colloquial term with derogatory implications.
The term biddy is losing favor due to its derogatory nature.

Bag

In fashion, a statement accessory.
Her designer bag was the envy of her friends.

Biddy

A term reflecting stereotypes about old women.
Calling someone a biddy reflects outdated stereotypes.

Bag

Reflects changes in usage due to sustainability.
Plastic bags are being replaced with biodegradable options.

Biddy

Biddy or Biddie is a given name which may refer to:

Bag

A bag (also known regionally as a sack) is a common tool in the form of a non-rigid container. The use of bags predates recorded history, with the earliest bags being no more than lengths of animal skin, cotton, or woven plant fibers, folded up at the edges and secured in that shape with strings of the same material.Despite their simplicity, bags have been fundamental for the development of human civilization, as they allow people to easily collect loose materials such as berries or food grains, and to transport more items than could readily be carried in the hands.

Biddy

A hen; a fowl.

Bag

A container of flexible material, such as paper, plastic, or leather, that is used for carrying or storing items.

Biddy

A woman, especially an older one who is extremely talkative.

Bag

A handbag; a purse.

Biddy

(derogatory) A woman, especially an old woman; especially one regarded as fussy or mean or a gossipy busybody.

Bag

A piece of hand luggage, such as a suitcase or satchel.

Biddy

(uncommon) An attractive girl.

Bag

A pouchlike or sagging organ or part of the body, such as a cow's udder.

Biddy

An Irish maidservant.

Bag

An object that resembles a pouch.

Biddy

An Irishwoman.

Bag

(Nautical) The sagging or bulging part of a sail.

Biddy

A name used in calling a hen or chicken, often as "biddy-biddy-biddy".

Bag

The amount that a bag can hold.

Biddy

A name used in calling a hen or chicken.

Bag

An amount of game taken or legally permitted to be taken.

Biddy

An Irish serving woman or girl.

Bag

(Baseball) A base.

Biddy

Adult female chicken

Bag

(Slang) An area of interest or skill
Cooking is not my bag.

Biddy

Young bird especially of domestic fowl

Bag

(Slang) A woman considered ugly or unkempt.

Bag

To put into a bag
Bag groceries.

Bag

To cause to bulge like a pouch.

Bag

To capture or kill as game
Bagged six grouse.

Bag

To gain; acquire
He bagged a profit from the sale.

Bag

To capture or arrest
Was bagged for trespassing.

Bag

To accomplish or achieve
Bagged a birdie with a long putt.

Bag

To fail to attend purposely; skip
Bagged classes for the day and went to the beach.

Bag

To stop doing or considering; abandon
Bagged the idea and started from scratch.

Bag

To terminate the employment of.

Bag

To pack items in a bag.

Bag

To hang loosely
The pants bag at the knees.

Bag

To swell out; bulge.

Bag

A soft container made out of cloth, paper, thin plastic, etc. and open at the top, used to hold food, commodities, and other goods.

Bag

A container made of leather, plastic, or other material, usually with a handle or handles, in which you carry personal items, or clothes or other things that you need for travelling. Includes shopping bags, schoolbags, suitcases, and handbags.

Bag

(colloquial) One's preference.
Acid House is not my bag: I prefer the more traditional styles of music.

Bag

(derogatory) An ugly woman.

Bag

A fellow gay man.

Bag

(baseball) The cloth-covered pillow used for first, second, and third base.
The grounder hit the bag and bounced over the fielder’s head.

Bag

(baseball) First, second, or third base.
He headed back to the bag.

Bag

(preceded by "the") A breathalyzer, so named because it formerly had a plastic bag over the end to measure a set amount of breath.

Bag

(mathematics) A collection of objects, disregarding order, but (unlike a set) in which elements may be repeated.
A bag of three apples could be represented symbolically as {a,a,a}. Or, letting 'r' denote 'red apple' and 'g' denote 'green apple', then a bag of three red apples and two green apples could be denoted as {r,r,r,g,g}.

Bag

A sac in animal bodies, containing some fluid or other substance.
The bag of poison in the mouth of some serpents
The bag of a cow

Bag

A pouch tied behind a man's head to hold the back-hair of a wig; a bag wig.

Bag

The quantity of game bagged in a hunt.

Bag

A scrotum.

Bag

(UK) A unit of measure of cement equal to 94 pounds.

Bag

A dark circle under the eye, caused by lack of sleep, drug addiction etc.

Bag

(slang) A small envelope that contains drugs, especially narcotics.

Bag

£1000, a grand.

Bag

(informal) A large number or amount.

Bag

(transitive) To put into a bag.

Bag

(transitive) To take with oneself, to assume into one's score

Bag

(informal) To catch or kill, especially when fishing or hunting.
We bagged three deer yesterday.

Bag

To gain possession of something, or to make first claim on something.

Bag

(slang) To steal.

Bag

(slang) To arrest.

Bag

(transitive) To furnish or load with a bag.

Bag

To provide with artificial ventilation via a bag valve mask (BVM) resuscitator.

Bag

To fit with a bag to collect urine.

Bag

To expose exterior shape or physical behaviour resembling that of a bag

Bag

To (cause to) swell or hang down like a full bag.
The skin bags from containing morbid matter.
The brisk wind bagged the sails.

Bag

To hang like an empty bag.
His trousers bag at the knees.

Bag

To drop away from the correct course.

Bag

To become pregnant.

Bag

To forget, ignore, or get rid of.

Bag

To show particular puffy emotion

Bag

To swell with arrogance.

Bag

To laugh uncontrollably.

Bag

To criticise sarcastically.

Bag

A sack or pouch, used for holding anything; as, a bag of meal or of money.

Bag

A sac, or dependent gland, in animal bodies, containing some fluid or other substance; as, the bag of poison in the mouth of some serpents; the bag of a cow.

Bag

A sort of silken purse formerly tied about men's hair behind, by way of ornament.

Bag

The quantity of game bagged.

Bag

A certain quantity of a commodity, such as it is customary to carry to market in a sack; as, a bag of pepper or hops; a bag of coffee.

Bag

To put into a bag; as, to bag hops.

Bag

To seize, capture, or entrap; as, to bag an army; to bag game.

Bag

To furnish or load with a bag or with a well filled bag.
A bee bagged with his honeyed venom.

Bag

To swell or hang down like a full bag; as, the skin bags from containing morbid matter.

Bag

To swell with arrogance.

Bag

To become pregnant.

Bag

A flexible container with a single opening;
He stuffed his laundry into a large bag

Bag

The quantity of game taken in a particular period (usually by one person);
His bag included two deer

Bag

Place that runner must touch before scoring;
He scrambled to get back to the bag

Bag

A bag used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women);
She reached into her bag and found a comb

Bag

The quantity that a bag will hold;
He ate a large bag of popcorn

Bag

A portable rectangular traveling bag for carrying clothes;
He carried his small bag onto the plane with him

Bag

An ugly or ill-tempered woman;
He was romancing the old bag for her money

Bag

Mammary gland of bovids (cows and sheep and goats)

Bag

An activity that you like or at which you are superior;
Chemistry is not my cup of tea
His bag now is learning to play golf
Marriage was scarcely his dish

Bag

Capture or kill, as in hunting;
Bag a few pheasants

Bag

Hang loosely, like an empty bag

Bag

Bulge out; form a bulge outward, or be so full as to appear to bulge

Bag

Take unlawfully

Bag

Put into a bag;
The supermarket clerk bagged the groceries

Common Curiosities

What does biddy mean?

Biddy is a derogatory term for an old woman, suggesting nagging or fussiness.

What makes a bag eco-friendly?

Eco-friendly bags are made from sustainable, recyclable, or biodegradable materials, reducing environmental impact.

How can one avoid ageism in language?

Avoiding ageism involves using respectful language, not making assumptions based on age, and recognizing the value and diversity of all age groups.

Why is the term biddy considered derogatory?

Biddy is considered derogatory because it stereotypes elderly women in a negative light, emphasizing nagging or fussiness.

How has the use of bags evolved over time?

The use of bags has evolved with developments in materials, fashion trends, and a growing focus on sustainability and technology.

How do material innovations affect bags?

Material innovations affect bags by improving durability, aesthetics, and environmental sustainability, leading to wider choices for consumers.

What are the uses of a bag?

A bag is used for holding, carrying, or storing various items, ranging from groceries to personal belongings.

Can biddy have any non-derogatory meanings?

While primarily derogatory when referring to women, biddy can also mean a young chicken in some dialects, which is not pejorative.

What types of bags are there?

Types of bags include handbags, tote bags, backpacks, duffel bags, and many others designed for specific purposes.

What are alternatives to using pejorative terms like biddy?

Alternatives include using neutral terms such as "elderly woman" or simply referring to the person by name or as an individual.

Why are bags important in fashion?

Bags are important in fashion as they serve both functional and aesthetic purposes, often acting as statement pieces that complement personal style.

Is it acceptable to use the term biddy?

The acceptability of using "biddy" varies, but it's generally advised against due to its derogatory implications towards elderly women.

Can biddy be used affectionately?

While some may use "biddy" affectionately or humorously among friends, its underlying derogatory connotations make it risky in broader contexts.

What is the significance of bag design in modern culture?

Bag design holds significant cultural value, symbolizing status, personal taste, and environmental consciousness in modern society.

How do societal attitudes towards bags reflect environmental concerns?

Societal attitudes are shifting towards eco-friendly bags as awareness of plastic pollution and sustainability grows, reflecting environmental concerns.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Urooj Arif
Urooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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