mixed bag

noun

1

: a miscellaneous collection : assortment

2

: one having both positive and negative qualities or aspects

his performance was a mixed bag

Synonyms

• agglomerate
• agglomeration
• alphabet soup
• assortment
• botch
• clutter
• collage
• crazy quilt
• farrago
• gallimaufry
• grab bag
• gumbo
• hash
• hodgepodge
• hotchpotch
• jambalaya
• jumble
• jungle
• litter
• macédoine
• medley
• mélange
• menagerie
• miscellanea
• miscellany
• mishmash
• montage
• motley
• muddle
• olio
• olla podrida
• omnium-gatherum
• pastiche
• patchwork
• patchwork quilt
• potpourri
• ragbag
• ragout
• rummage
• salad
• salmagundi
• scramble
• shuffle
• smorgasbord
• stew
• tumble
• variety
• welter

Examples of mixed bag in a Sentence

His performance was a mixed bag.

a mixed bag of professional astronomers and amateur enthusiasts attended the conference

Recent Examples on the Web

Chan shares that the reactions were a mixed bag—some millennials felt slighted, interpreting the playful tone as a critique of their generation, while others related and shared their own experiences in a lighthearted manner. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

What history shows: Per Bespoke, Yum Brands’ quarterly results tend to be a mixed bag. —Fred Imbert, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2024

One poll of New Mexico from this month showed Harris up 9 points, while Virginia polls have been a bit of a mixed bag, ranging from double digit to low single digit leads for Harris. —Jared Gans, The Hill, 31 Oct. 2024

American whiskey sales, like the spirits market at-large, have been a mixed bag over the last year. —Rachel King, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1