[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/handbag.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / handbag

[← H](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/H/)

# handbag

«handbag» in Mova's school dictionary: **a small bag, often with handles or a strap, used mostly…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

### part of speech

noun (a handbag, handbags)

### meaning for a pupil

A handbag is a small bag, often with handles or a strap, used mostly by women to carry things like a purse, keys, phone and tissues. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handbag/#m1)

### sense in the lessons

In everyday life a handbag holds personal things; in the US it is usually called a purse. In safety lessons: keep bags closed and close to you in crowded places, and never take things from someone else's handbag. In stories a grandma's handbag often holds surprising things like sweets and plasters.

### examples

- Mum put her keys in her handbag. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handbag/#x1)
- Grandma always has tissues and mints in her handbag. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handbag/#x2)
- The lady held her handbag tightly on the busy train. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handbag/#x3)
- I found a lost handbag and gave it to the shop manager. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handbag/#x4)
- Her new handbag had a long shoulder strap. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handbag/#x5)
- Never look in someone's handbag without asking. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handbag/#x6)

### note

One word, countable: handbags. In US English «purse» usually means handbag; in UK English «purse» is the small wallet for coins inside the handbag. Do not confuse with «bag of hands».

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «handbag» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handbag/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.