# give the sack

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/give-the-sack
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To dismiss from employment

## Examples

- The boss had to give him the sack for being late.
- After several warnings about his poor performance, the manager finally decided to give him the sack.
- The company decided to give the sack to the entire department following the sudden collapse of their primary market.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.