Meanings
plural grab hags · alternative grab-hag
- ChinaderogatoryoftenrareslangOne who takes excessively or takes all that is available, without regard for the needs or considerations of others.
If you have free samples, a grab hag will take all of them, leaving none for anyone else. Grab hags are the reason why many parts of China don’t have free toilet paper in bathrooms.
2025 January 4, Ossiana Tepfenhart, “The Great Uncivilization Of America Is Here”, in Medium, archived from the original on 06 Jan 20251 more example
There’s a certain type of auntie in China, OK? We call them grab hags. […] There’s a specific demographic of these grab hags, we call them, which are, like, the most infuriating people you’ll ever meet. […] They’re basically like these vile creatures that will take anything they can. If they see an opportunity to take something for free, they do.
2022 November 8, China Fact Chasers, “The Evil Grab Hags of China!”, in YouTube
Origin
From grab + hag. Originally applied to older women who engaged in the practice, but now can be applied to individuals of any age or gender.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
grab hag. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grab%20hag
“grab hag.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grab%20hag. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “grab hag,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grab%20hag.
Source: grab hag on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.