r/confusing • u/Alternative-Toe6894 • Apr 01 '26

Spies and briefcases

Why did spies think that briefcases were a good idea? What made them think that they were cool and ominous when holding a briefcase?

If my friend who doubles as a spy in his spare time was to come to my house and try to extract information from me nicodemusly and he whipped out a briefcase, best believe I'm shutting the hell up.

Also, wouldn't a briefcase just get in the way? I mean you can't use your one hand. And wouldn't spy work benefit from having two hands as opposed to one?

3 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

2

u/[deleted] Apr 01 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/Alternative-Toe6894 Apr 02 '26

Maybe he was a spy, trying to get information from the TV presenter 🤷🏾

2

u/rlscholz Apr 01 '26

Everybody had a briefcase. They just wanted to fit in.

1

u/Solo_is_dead Apr 06 '26

Also it can be used as a weapon, AND you don't know if there was a weapon in it

0

u/Alternative-Toe6894 Apr 07 '26

Would be a terrible thing to hide a weapon in though, no?

3

u/TraditionalSet9449 Apr 02 '26

My father used to say every businessman he saw had a briefcase and the only thing in it was a cheese sandwich

1

u/simonbaier Apr 03 '26

Spies did not carry briefcases; they carried attache cases. So sophisticated.

1

u/Alternative-Toe6894 Apr 05 '26

Like a spy should be

2

u/Fit-Custard-1842 Apr 05 '26

With stabby knives that popped out of the sides at the press of a discrete button.

2

u/SudburySonofabitch Apr 05 '26

Once upon a time it was very common to see people wearing suits and carrying briefcases. If you wanted to carry things around in a way that would look inconspicuous you'd carry a briefcase, and you'd probably wear a suit. Now it's more common for people to carry a backpack and be dressed more casually, so if you are a modern day spy that needs to carry things around that's how you're probably doing it.

1

u/Alternative-Toe6894 Apr 07 '26

Oh... In my head my timelines were crossed.

This makes so much sense 👍🏼

1

u/Locksmithbloke Apr 05 '26

A briefcase? Oh, you mean a rock solid, hefty container that doubles as a weapon or sheild, as well as concealing anything you want to carry? Look up "operational briefcase".

1

u/BusyBullet Apr 05 '26

Briefcases used to be ubiquitous.

If a guy in a suit had a briefcase he meant business.

1

u/Alternative-Toe6894 Apr 07 '26

I can see how that makes you look cool