fumble the bag

Verb

fumble the bag (third-person singular simple present fumbles the bag, present participle fumbling the bag, simple past and past participle fumbled the bag)

1. (slang) To make unwise financial decisions that lead one to lose or not make more money.
   • The accountant kept thousands of us entertained during his time on the show, with his unrelenting determination to not to fumble the bag – which stood at an impressive $100,000 (£81,000) when the series began.2020 May 7, Cydney Yeates, “Too Hot To Handle’s Kelz Dyke reveals how he spent his prize money – and of course, he was super sensible”, in Metro, archived from the original on 29 Oct 2020
   • So while looking at his partnership deals, his lyrics and other aspects of his money-making moves, XXL highlights the ways not to fumble the bag according to Travis Scott's business moves. You can apply them to your own life to make a deal and, more importantly, secure the bag.2021 February 15, Trent Fitzgerald, “Learn the Ways Not to Fumble the Bag According to Travis Scott”, in XXL, archived from the original on 03 Apr 2023
2. (broadly, slang) To miss out on an opportunity or to do a bad job using it.
   • [W]ith extremely varying degrees of success, the Bachelor Franchise has been trying to match people with their soul mates since 2002. Now, for the first time in 17 years, there’s a queer couple on the show...and the producers have majorly fumbled the bag.2019 August 27, Hannah Chambers, “The ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ Producers Have Done Demi and Kristian So Dirty”, in Cosmpolitan, archived from the original on 26 Jun 2022
   • Hulu really fumbled the bag when they canceled High Fidelity. So while they hold that L, I'll be begging other streaming services and networks to pick the series up.2020 August 28, Morgan Murrell, “Hulu Canceled "High Fidelity" Before Giving Fans Cherise Episodes, And I'm Ready To Throw Hands”, in BuzzFeed, archived from the original on 14 Jul 2023