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sack

sack

3 3.7
A situation when someone loses their job
  • noun
  • /sæk/
  • UK
: despido
  • I wouldn't be bothering you at all with it, but with Dumbledore gone... ...l'll likely be getting the sack any day now.

The season finishes, he gets the sack.

Examples

  • Dad got the sack.

  • No, I'm not getting the sack, Charlie.

  • Did you hear he got the sack?

  • That's why he eventually got the sack.

  • She gave me the sack today, but that's because you're home.

  • Eavesdropping is a low habit his lordship will not tolerate and so, young idiot Albert, I'm forced to give you the sack.

  • After several warnings about his performance, the employee finally received the sack for failing to improve.

  • The manager announced that they would give him the sack due to repeated absences from work.

  • Many workers were shocked when they learned that their colleague was getting the sack for misconduct.

Synonyms

layoff
vssack
102 2.6

An event when a company ends someone's job because of money problems, not because they did a bad job

is used for personal dismissal regardless of company reasons
discharge
vssack
  • Formal
68 5.2

The official release from a job, duty, or service

is the same idea focused on ending employment specifically
dismissal
vssack
51 3.3

To remove someone from their job against their will

is the broad label for termination of employment
severance
vssack
44 6.9

An end to a connection between people or groups

is narrower, applying specifically to ending employment
removal
vssack
  • Formal
35 3.4

Taking someone out of an official job because they did something wrong

is focused on employment termination rather than public office
firing
vssack
  • Informal
27 3.7

The act of removing someone from their job

is the general term for terminating employment
ouster
vssack
16 7.4

Removing someone from a place like a home by force or law

is the normal employment termination not implying force
release
vssack
  • Formal
15 4.2

The act of ending someone's job

is more narrowly used for standard termination events
separation
vssack
  • Formal
5 3.8

The act of ending a person's job, for example by firing

is limited to involuntary termination rather than voluntary leaving
sacking
vssack
  • UK
1 4.4

Losing a job because you are fired

has identical meaning and is the same general term
ousting
vssack
1 7.0

To remove someone from a job or role, often by force

describes regular dismissal without enforced or legal removal
dismission
vssack
1 8.1

The official act of removing someone from a job or position

is the common term without stressing official formality

Antonyms

∞ 1.4

To give someone a job and pay them for their work

Idioms

in the sack
  • Informal
13 9.2

Asleep or resting in bed

to hit the sack
  • Informal
9 6.0

To go to bed to sleep

3 4.8

Lose your job because your employer fires you

1 9.9

A thing or deal you accept before you know its real value that often turns out disappointing

8.8

To go to bed or sleep

Compounds

sack of shit
  • Offensive
20 9.9

Something that is very bad and should be ignored

sad sack
  • Offensive
10 8.6

A person who often fails to do things well

5 2.5

A children's race where children hop forward inside a sack to reach the finish line

sack of crap
  • Offensive
2 9.9

A thing that is of very poor quality and not worth the money

1 6.7

A rough bag used to carry grain or potatoes

1 7.9

A man's hip-length coat with a straight back that forms the jacket of a suit

dressing sack
  • Archaic
1 9.6

A loose informal jacket women wear at home while dressing

A piece of clothing with thin straps behind the neck and a loose straight shape

A loose top or dress with a strap around the neck and a baggy shape

sack-whack comment
  • Offensive
9.9

A rude or vulgar remark that embarrasses people

How Severe

dismissal
51 3.3
sack
  • UK
3 3.7
layoff
102 2.6
suspension
  • Formal
125 4.6

Surface Forms

sack singular
sacks plural

Etymology

A helpful way to remember the noun sack meaning dismissal is this: employers once gave a worker his 'sack' of belongings when they let him go, so to 'get the sack' came to mean lose your job.