My Bag

The term "my bag" is the 1930s original pronunciation of the more recent "my bad" mispronunciation from the 1980s. It means "my mistake, my fault, my apologies". The two pronunciations coexisted for about 15 years till roughly 1995. The Millennials never knew the original term. "My bag" was a phrase used when playing a game of spades. In the game, you must for-tell how many "books" or hands you would take. It was called a "bag" if you went over that number. It was a courtesy to claim your mistake by saying "My Bag" if you were playing with a partner. Spades came out of the Midwestern United States in the late 1930s. It was said to have been invented by college students who enjoyed both Whist and Bridge. They were looking for a fast-paced game that was competitive and strategic. The game slowly spread to other college campuses. It didn't take off until WWII brought so much of America's youth into the military. Because the game was portable, could be played by small groups, and could often be played in less than twenty minutes, its popularity mushroomed. You can still find the game online. "My Bag," meaning "My Mistake," should not be confused with "Not My Bag." meaning "Not My Thing." or "What's Your Bag?" meaning "What's Your Problem?"