the handbags come out en · X
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
Coined c. March 2nd, 2004 by Jeremy St. Louis on the radio show Fox Sports World Report. Derives from women hitting each other with handbags during a catfight; compare earlier handbags, handbags at dawn.
Meanings
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(UK, idiomatic, rare) A row intensifies; a dispute becomes heated.
"I'm ready to take the blame for all the problems of English football, if that is what he wants." The handbags come out early doors when Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger responds to Ferguson's dig about the Gunners' foreign contingent.
2008, Chris Charles, BBC Sport, 12 May 2008, “Premier League quotes of the season”The handbags have come out after a diplomatic argument between Israel and Brazil got, well, very personal.
2014, Oliver Wheaton, Metro, 26 Jul 2014, “Handbags: Israel has dig at Brazil’s 7-1 World Cup defeat after diplomatic row over Gaza bombing”