Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Grab \Grab\, n.
A sudden grasp or seizure.
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An instrument for clutching objects for the purpose of raising them; -- specially applied to devices for withdrawing drills, etc., from artesian and other wells that are drilled, bored, or driven.
Grab bag, at fairs, a bag or box holding small articles which are to be drawn, without being seen, on payment of a small sum. [Colloq.]
Grab game, a theft committed by grabbing or snatching a purse or other piece of property. [Colloq.]
Wiktionary
n. 1 a gift, purchase, etc. whose contents are concealed until after a selection is made 2 (context idiomatic English) any random assortment, selection or possibility 3 A moderately large bag of crisps or other snack, intended for sharing.
WordNet
n. an assortment of miscellaneous items
a container from which a person draws a wrapped item at random without knowing the contents
Wikipedia
Grab bag may mean
- Bug-out bag or Survival kit, a portable collection of emergency supplies
- Fukubukuro, a Japanese custom where old merchandise is sold at discount prices
- Party favor gift bags
- Walkers (snack foods) slightly larger than normal packet of crisps.
- The theme song of Duke Nukem 3D
Usage examples of "grab bag".
This would likely be her last chance to make a calm assessment of the situation before a myriad of people and agencies got involved: secretaries, undersecretaries, directors, deputy directors, generals, admirals, and of course the president himself and the grab bag of political advisors who came with him.
There were more Trinities spreading out of the ruins behind her and Greg, dressed in a grab bag of camouflage jackets, jeans, and T-shirts.
The trouble was that the grab bag of used clothes-the coats and sweaters and long pants-were not enough.
It would be like reaching into a grab bag: they might get a classic battered woman syndrome report—.