General
in the bag
What does in the bag mean?
On uniformed patrol duty in the NYPD. The 'bag' is the blue uniform itself, so being 'in the bag' means you haven't (yet) made detective or gone plainclothes.
"He did eight years in the bag in the Bronx before he caught a gold shield."
Origin
NYPD internal slang — 'the bag' = the blue uniform. Detectives who 'get out of the bag' have made it to plainclothes.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'in the bag' mean in NYPD slang?
It refers to a uniformed patrol cop, as opposed to a detective in plainclothes.
How do you use 'in the bag' in a sentence?
An officer might say 'He spent five years in the bag before making detective'.
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