Holding the bag. A Wall Street colloquialism; said of an unwilling buyer. For example, a
speculator or a pool may have arranged to buy a certain amount of a particular stock in
expectation of an advance in it only to find out when the proposed amount has been accumulated
that it is necessary in consequence of free offerings to continue purchases to prevent a fall in the
price. If the speculator or pool keeps on buying he or it is, in Wall Street parlance, holding the
bag— that is, receiving stock that others wish to part with.  A speculator or pool may hold the bag
in grain, cotton, coffee or any other speculative commodity as well as in a stock.