Doggy Bag

[Lennon]

I know this means that if you were in a restaurant and didn't eat all your meal that you could ask for a 'doggy bag' for the rest of the meal so you can take it home. Where did it come from though?

[Quizmonster]

The words 'doggy bag' first appeared in print in a magazine in the USA in 1964. The idea behind it was that the diners who took one away from a restaurant were taking the food home for their dog, whereas they were in reality probably intending to reheat it for their own benefit the next day!

[woofgang]

I have also heard the phrase "doggy bottle used where not all the wine has been consumed....some lucky dogs out there!!!

[andy hughes]

As you probably know, the repressed british would die sooner than admit that they wanted to take food home, wheras in the U.S. it os perfectly acceptable and common practice - maybe they are just more at ease with themselves?

[IggyB]

or maybe they just eat more

[Capi]

Here is the US, doggie bags WERE originally so restaurant patrons could bring home the meat scraps to their dogs. However, it has evolved into just asking for a doggie bag to bring them home for later human consumption as well. We are shameless and don't mind having a wait person bag-up our leftovers to eat later. If I am alone I often even ask them before hand to just put the salad (dressing on the side)in a 'to go' box since I know I will not be able to consume the entire meal.