to sack

Examples

• All

• The British invaded and sacked Washington, burning the White House and most government buildings.

  4 Presidents (2020)

• We sacked Rome, loaded tradeships with the plague rats, burned London to the ground.

  Batman Begins (2005)

• They thought they could come here and sack our city in a day.

  Troy (2004)

• After a desperate siege, the city was sacked and destroyed forever.

  Academic text (2011)

• The British then proceeded to sack the nearby town of St. Mary's and burn its fort before departing just weeks later.

  Academic text (2007)

• The "barbarians" were able to sack Rome because the Romans did not wish to salvage their "civilization."

  Blog text (29)

• An American consulate was stormed and sacked, and our ambassador was killed.

  Blog text (7)

• Eventually, these barbarians overran vast tracts of the empire, sacked its capital, and accelerated the decline of Roman power.

  Academic text (2001)

• In one of their most daring operations, the Welsh privateer Sir Henry Morgan sacked the well-defended city of Panama in 1671.

  Academic text (2009)

• When they captured the city, the soldiers began to sack it, destroying buildings and taking valuables.

Synonyms

P

to plunder

vsto sack

26 6.0

To steal things by force, often during war or disorder

includes destroying and targeting captured towns rather than only stealing goods

S

to spoil

vsto sack

2 7.6

To attack a place and take valuable things, often destroying it

focuses on capturing and ruining a town or city after conquest

Idioms

H

to hit the sack

• Informal

10 6.0

To go to bed to sleep

I

in the sack

• Informal

4 9.2

Asleep or resting in bed

G

to get the sack

• UK

2 4.8

Lose your job because your employer fires you

C

cat in the sack

• UK

9.9

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

F

to fall in the sack

• Informal

8.8

To go to bed or sleep

Phrasal Verbs

S

to sack out

• Informal

4 7.5

To go to bed to sleep

G

to give (someone) the sack

• UK

1 5.2

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

G

to give the sack

• UK

5.9

To tell someone they must leave their job

S

to sack someone

• UK

4.8

To stop employing someone, often suddenly as punishment

Compounds

S

sack of shit

• Offensive

13 9.9

Something that is very bad and should be ignored

S

sad sack

• Offensive

7 8.6

A person who often fails to do things well

S

sack race

4 2.5

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

G

gunny sack

• US

1 6.7

A rough bag used to carry grain or potatoes

S

sack of crap

• Offensive

1 9.9

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

D

dressing sack

• Archaic

9.6

A loose informal jacket women wear at home while dressing

H

halter-sack dress

7.0

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

H

halter-sack style

8.0

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

S

sack coat

7.9

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

S

sack-whack comment

• Offensive

9.9

A rude or vulgar remark that embarrasses people

How Destructive

to raze

17 7.1

to sack

14 8.6

to pillage

29 8.1

to raid

66 4.1

to ransack

38 6.3

to loot

49 4.2

Surface Forms

Etymology