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to sack

to sack

37 3.5
To make someone leave their job
  • verb
  • /sæk/
  • UK
translation icon : despedir
  • The manager had no choice but to sack the employee after repeated violations of company policy.

They they basically were demanding at one point for Spotify to sack Joe Rogan.

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Examples

  • If you get sacked for harassing a student, you won't be able to find a job anywhere.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Look, I... understand if I'm sacked now, all right?

  • I do not want to sack you.

  • Find out and sack him immediately!

  • But when people speak out, they get sacked and cancelled.

  • Sullivan had arrived at UVa less than two years before the board tried to sack her.

    Academic text (2017)
  • My uncle, who had been promoted to Colonel, was sacked without inquiry.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Sisson was sacked from his factory job when his employer found out.

    Academic text (2010)
  • I know this because I've been sacked before in a comparable industry.

    Blog text (10)
  • If you're going to sack me, then sack me; don't dismiss what I stand for.

    Academic text (2017)

Synonyms

to fire
vsto sack
2.8

To officially make someone leave their job

is the informal term often suggesting abrupt or punitive ending
to let go
vsto sack
852 3.8

To stop employing someone so they lose their job

leans more toward sudden or disciplinary ending rather than gentle release
to kick out
vsto sack
512 3.0

Force someone to leave a place or group

is limited to workplace endings without implying group expulsion
to throw out
vsto sack
236 3.0

To force someone to leave a place, job, or group

focuses specifically on ending employment rather than wider expulsion uses
to discharge
vsto sack
  • Formal
100 4.4

Officially release someone from a duty, job, or responsibility

focuses specifically on workplace endings rather than wider releases
to terminate
vsto sack
  • Formal
90 5.5

To make someone stop working for a company

is a general informal way to end employment, often abruptly
to dismiss
vsto sack
70 3.3

To remove someone from their job

is the informal, conversational expression for the same removal
to force out
vsto sack
46 4.4

To make someone leave a job by pressure or threats

describes ending employment without implying coercion or threats
to send away
vsto sack
43 3.0

Make someone leave a job or group because of a problem

is the general term for ending employment without the sending action
to can
vsto sack
  • Informal
33 7.7

To fire someone from their job in informal speech

is the neutral description of ending employment without slang
to boot out
vsto sack
  • Informal
15 5.8

Force someone to leave a job or organization suddenly

is the general way to say employment ends without sudden force
to give (someone) the boot
vsto sack
  • Informal
12 7.4

To stop someone from working at their job, usually because of bad work or behavior

is the neutral phrase for ending employment without slang force
to send packing
vsto sack
  • Informal
8 6.5

To make someone leave quickly to show they are not wanted

is a neutral way to describe an employment ending without rejection
to send someone packing
vsto sack
  • Informal
4 7.9

Make someone leave quickly and forcefully

is the employment-ending term without the strong rejection tone
to give notice
vsto sack
  • Formal
2 4.1

Formally tell an employee that their job will end

is the general act of ending employment without implying advance notice
to kick-out
vsto sack
1 4.0

To force someone to leave a place, group or job

is the broader term for ending employment without stressing coercion
1 5.2

To make someone leave their job, often as punishment or during job cuts

is the broader informal way to describe job ending
to sack someone
vsto sack
  • UK
4.8

To stop employing someone, often suddenly as punishment

is the general informal phrase for ending employment without detail
to give the sack
vsto sack
  • UK
5.9

To tell someone they must leave their job

is the plain expression for termination without the idiomatic tone
to give the axe
vsto sack
  • UK
7.4

To suddenly end someone's job or a relationship, often without warning

is the standard way to describe an employment ending

Antonyms

350 2.4

To give someone work and pay them for it

Idioms

to hit the sack
  • Informal
10 6.0

To go to bed to sleep

in the sack
  • Informal
4 9.2

Asleep or resting in bed

2 4.8

Lose your job because your employer fires you

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

Phrasal Verbs

to sack out
  • Informal
4 7.5

To go to bed to sleep

To make someone leave their job, often as punishment or during job cuts

To tell someone they must leave their job

To stop employing someone, often suddenly as punishment

Compounds

sack of shit
  • Offensive
13 9.9

Something that is very bad and should be ignored

sad sack
  • Offensive
7 8.6

A person who often fails to do things well

4 2.5

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

1 6.7

A rough bag used to carry grain or potatoes

sack of crap
  • Offensive
1 9.9

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

dressing sack
  • Archaic
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

7.9

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

sack-whack comment
  • Offensive
9.9

A rude or vulgar remark that embarrasses people

How Severe

to terminate
  • Formal
90 5.5
to sack
  • UK
37 3.5
to lay off
87 3.3
to suspend
  • Formal
289 4.2
to warn
1.0

Surface Forms

sack infinitive
sacked past
sacked past participle
sacking present participle
sacks third person singular

Etymology

The verb sack meaning 'to dismiss' follows the same image — to give someone the 'sack' of their things — so to sack someone is to fire them from their job.