English edit

Pronunciation edit

  • (file)

Noun edit

mixed bag (plural mixed bags)

  1. Any bag containing a mixture of something.
    a mixed bag of nuts
  2. (by extension) A group of entities with few characteristics in common.
    Synonyms: assortment, rattlebag
    The people I met at the support group were a mixed bag: some were grouchy pessimists, and others were cheery do-gooders.
  3. (idiomatic) Something tending to have both good and bad results or characteristics; something having a mixture of advantages and disadvantages.
    Owning a car is a mixed bag. It is convenient, but also costly.
    • 2011 January 22, Phil McNulty, “Aston Villa 1 - 0 Man City”, in BBC[1]:
      It was Villa, however, who posted the next moment of danger with another long-range effort from Young, forcing Hart - who had been a mixed bag throughout - to dive low to his right to save as Houllier's side continued to perform in a most encouraging fashion
    • 2021 October 25, Mike Isaac, “Facebook Wrestles With the Features It Used to Define Social Networking”, in The New York Times[2], →ISSN:
      At the same time, it did not alleviate teenagers’ social anxiety and young users did not share more photos, as the company thought they might, leading to a mixed bag of results.

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