Get the sack (boot, axe)

Meaning

The idiom "get the sack" means to be fired or dismissed from a job. It can also mean being expelled or excluded from an organization, such as school or club. The term is derived from the phrase "to get one's sack out of bed," which originally meant to get up and get ready for work or other activities.

Usage

• I just got fired from my job, so I need to start looking for a new one ASAP.
• The team lost their game, and the coach gave them the sack afterwards.
• The school expelled several students last week for cheating on exams.
• The club's president resigned after facing criticism over his handling of finances.
• I got fired from my job last month and am now looking for a new opportunity.

Roots and History

The idiom "get the sack" dates back to at least the 16th century, with an earliest known use in print by William Shakespeare in his play "Twelfth Night." The phrase has since become a common expression used to describe being fired or dismissed from work.

Synonyms in English

• Let go
• Sacked
• Terminated
• Ousted
• Excluded

Synonyms in other languages

• French: licencier (to dismiss)
• German: entlassen (to release)
• Italian: fischiare (to let out)
• Spanish: dar de baja (to demote)
• Portuguese: demitir (to terminate)

Similar Idioms

• make a beeline for

• get cracking

• straighten up and fly right