sack
B1Informal (for 'dismissal' meaning); Formal/Historic (for 'plunder' meaning); Neutral (for 'bag' meaning).
Definition
Meaning
A large, strong bag made of coarse material used for storing or carrying goods.
A verb meaning to dismiss someone from employment; to plunder or destroy; the act of plundering a town; a loose dress; a type of fortified wine; in American football, to tackle the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Highly polysemous word. The verb 'to sack' (dismiss) is informal and considered more direct/blunt than 'lay off' or 'let go'. As a noun for a bag, it implies a specific shape (sack of potatoes) and material. Context is crucial for disambiguation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK usage includes 'get the sack' for dismissal. US usage more commonly includes the football tackle meaning. Both use 'sack' for a large bag, but US also uses 'paper sack' where UK would say 'paper bag'. 'Sackcloth' (for mourning) is understood in both.
Connotations
In both, 'to be sacked' is negative and can imply fault. The noun for a bag is neutral in both, though in US informal slang 'hit the sack' (go to bed) is very common.
Frequency
The 'dismissal' meaning is high-frequency in business/informal news in both. The 'plunder' meaning is low-frequency, mainly historical/literary.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
VERB: to sack + OBJECT (He sacked the manager)VERB: to get + the sack (She got the sack)NOUN: a sack + of + NOUN (a sack of flour)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Get the sack / be given the sack”
- “Hit the sack”
- “Sackcloth and ashes”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'The CEO sacked three directors after the scandal.'
Academic
'The sack of Rome in 410 AD by the Visigoths was a pivotal event.'
Everyday
'Could you grab a sack of onions from the market?'
Technical
'The defensive end managed to sack the quarterback for a ten-yard loss.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The board decided to sack the manager for poor results.
- Vikings would often sack coastal monasteries.
American English
- The company sacked half its staff last quarter.
- The linebacker sacked the QB in the final seconds.
adverb
British English
- (No common adverbial use for 'sack')
American English
- (No common adverbial use for 'sack')
adjective
British English
- He wore a rough sackcloth robe as penance.
- It was just a simple sack dress.
American English
- She bought a sack dress for the summer.
- The sack race is a classic picnic game.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I need a sack for these potatoes.
- He hit the sack early because he was tired.
- She got the sack for being late too often.
- The children had a sack race at the school fair.
- After sacking the city, the invaders took all the valuable artefacts.
- The defensive strategy is designed to sack the quarterback quickly.
- The CEO's ruthless decision to sack the veteran employee caused a morale crisis.
- The historical account detailed the brutal sack of the capital in vivid detail.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SACK of flour. If you're clumsy and drop it, your boss might SACK you. To forget the bad day, you HIT THE SACK (bed).
Conceptual Metaphor
EMPLOYMENT IS A CONTAINER (losing it is 'getting the sack'); BED IS A CONTAINER ('hit the sack'); FAILURE/DESTRUCTION IS EMPTYING A CONTAINER ('to sack a city').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'сак' (a type of tree or bagpipe).
- The verb 'to sack' (dismiss) is NOT 'саккадировать' (to saccade).
- 'Sack' as a bag is larger/coarser than 'пакет' (package/bag). 'Пакет' is closer to 'bag' or 'packet'.
- The idiom 'hit the sack' has no relation to physical violence.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I was sacked from my work.' Correct: 'I was sacked from my job.' or 'I was sacked.'
- Incorrect: 'He put the groceries in a sack.' (Possible in US, but in UK 'bag' is more common for shopping.)
- Confusing 'sack' (bag) with 'sac' (biological pouch, pronounced /sæk/ or /sɑːk/).
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'sackcloth and ashes' imply?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is informal and direct, often perceived as blunt or harsh. More formal alternatives are 'dismiss', 'terminate', or 'let go'.
A sack is typically larger, made of coarser material (like hessian/burlap), and often lacks a defined shape when empty. A 'bag' is a more general term and can be made of paper, plastic, etc.
Rarely. Its core meanings (dismissal, plundering, a coarse bag) are neutral or negative. The idiom 'hit the sack' (go to bed) is neutral/positive in an informal context.
The 'dismissal' meaning (18th century) originates from the idea of a worker being given their 'sack' (bag of tools) and told to leave. It's related to the phrase 'to get the sack'.