sack1 nounsack2 verb
sacksack1 /sæk/ ●●○ S3 noun [countable] 
WORD ORIGINsack1
Origin:
Old English sacc, from Latin saccus, from Greek sakkos ‘bag, sackcloth’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a sack of groceries
- a brown paper sack
- Doleman is tied for the team lead in sacks with three.
- In six games against the team, he has recorded 14 tackles, four quarterback sacks and knocked down a pass.
- She held Janir in her arms, but loosely, like a sack of wheat about to be spilled.
- Somewhere among all these trees the Friar was in pursuit of his sack, not knowing that the sack was on Marian's shoulder.
- The corpses are carried out on pallets, the drop cloths and sacks removed and folded for use next time.
- The Kat was then bundled up in a sack by the Right to Censor and taken away.
- The van was capacious and he decided to fill up the space with a couple of sacks of fuel.
- They wrapped old sacks round themselves to keep out the cold.
Longman Language Activatorwhen someone is forced to leave their job
· After she lost her job, she got more and more depressed and started drinking heavily.· Many people won't complain about pay and conditions because they're terrified of losing their jobs.
also dismiss formal to make someone leave their job, especially because they have done something wrong: · He was just impossible to work with, and in the end they fired him.· Harris was caught stealing, and was dismissed immediately.· You're fired!fire/dismiss somebody for something: · She was fired for serious professional misconduct.fire from: · When Max was fired from his job the whole family had to pack up and leave town.· A New York art teacher who refused to take part in the daily flag ceremony was dismissed from her post.
British to make someone leave their job, for example, because they are not good enough at it, they are no longer needed, or they have done something wrong: · We can't really give him the sack just because he's unpopular.sack somebody for something: · He was sacked for being drunk in the office.get the sack (=be sacked): · He had the good luck to work in an old family firm when nobody ever got the sack.
to make workers, especially workers in a large factory or organization, leave their jobs, because there is not enough work for them to do, or not enough money to pay their wages: lay off somebody/lay somebody off: · 3000 car workers have been laid off at the factory in Cleveland.
British to make someone leave their job, and usually pay them some money to do so, because they are no longer needed: · At least 2,000 computer programmers have been made redundant in the past year.· We lost our home when my husband was made redundant five years ago.
British a situation in which someone has to leave their job, and is usually paid some money to do so, because they are no longer needed by their company: · These redundancies are necessary for the company to be able to survive.· The board are planning a restructuring which could mean hundreds of redundancies.voluntary redundancy (=when a company asks workers if they want to leave their jobs, and offers to pay them money to do so): · We hope to achieve staffing cuts through voluntary redundancy and a freeze on recruitment.
to make someone leave a job or organization temporarily, either as a punishment for doing something wrong, or while the organization tries to find out whether they have done something wrong or not: · Two senior officials have been suspended on full pay pending a second internal inquiry.suspend from: · The Police Department has suspended six officers from duty while they investigate claims of fraud and corruption.
to tell someone that they must leave their job, either immediately or in a week, a month etc: · The company are planning to close down, and we've all been given two weeks' notice.· In the course of restructuring, over half the workforce were given their notice.
if someone with an important official job is relieved of their duties or post , their job is taken away from them, especially for a short time because people think they have done something very bad and this is being checked: · The Chief Inspector has been relieved of his duties pending another investigation by fellow officers.· The authorities have decided to relieve the professor of his post at the university until further notice, after complaints were made by one of his female students.
to get into your bed in order to sleep · Do you want to go to bed, or watch the movie?· Mom, do I have to go to bed right now?· She had planned to go to bed early that night, but a friend stopped by to see her.go to bed at · I went to bed at nine last night, and I'm still tired.go straight to bed (=go to bed very shortly after doing something else) · Marianne took a shower and went straight to bed.
to be lying in your bed in order to go to sleep: · Sorry, were you in bed? I thought it might be too late to call you.· I'm usually in bed by 10.30 on weekdays.· You were supposed to be in bed by now!
the time when you go to bed in order to sleep: · It's late -- it must be nearly bedtime.· Lucy, 7.30 is bedtime, you know that.· This medicine should be taken at bedtime and first thing in the morning.my/your/his etc bedtime (=the time when you usually go to bed): · Isn't it your bedtime?past (your/his etc) bedtime (=after the time when you normally go to bed): · It's past my bedtime -- I really must get some sleep.
informal to go to bed after you have been doing something such as talking with other people or working for a long time: · Come on you guys, it's time to turn in.· I'm going to have to turn in. I'm not used to these late nights.
also hit the hay informal to go to bed when it is very late or you are very tired: · Usually I come home, eat dinner, watch a little TV, and then hit the sack by 9:30 or 10:00.· I'm bushed. I think I'll hit the hay.
formal or written to go to bed: · The captain retired at ten o'clock with a glass of whisky.retire to bed: · Mary Ellen always had to set the fire for the next morning before retiring to bed.
WORD SETSAC, accessory, nounadapter, nounaerosol, nounalarm, nounarm, nounash, nounattaché case, nounbag, nounbar, nounbarrel, nounbeep, verbbeeswax, nounbell, nounbelly, nounbelt, nounbench, nounbenzine, nounbinding, nounbiro, nounbolt, nounbooth, nounbox, nounbox, verbbrad, nounbriefcase, nounbristle, nounbrolly, nounbrush, nounbucket, nounbuckle, nounbuffer, nounbulb, nounBulldog clip, nounbulletin board, nounbullhorn, nounbung, nounbunting, nounbusiness card, nounbutt, nounbutton, nounbuzzer, nouncable, nouncalling card, nouncan, nouncandle, nouncane, nouncarbon, nouncarbon copy, nouncarbon paper, nouncard, nouncardboard, nouncardboard, adjectivecardboard cut-out, nouncard catalog, nouncarrier, nouncarrier bag, nouncarryall, nouncart, nouncarton, nouncartridge, nouncase, nouncaster, nouncatch, nounCellophane, nouncesspit, nounchain, nounchalice, nounchannel, nounchart, nounchute, nouncitronella, nounclamp, nouncleat, nounclip, nounclipboard, nouncomb, nouncombination lock, nouncompartment, nouncord, nouncrank, nouncrate, nouncrepe paper, nouncycle, noundetector, noundial, noundigital, adjectivedisposable, adjectivedrape, verbdrawing pin, noundryer, noundurable goods, nounDurex, nounearplug, nounelastic band, nouneraser, nouneyelet, nounfabric, nounfelt-tip pen, nounfemale, adjectivefence, nounfiberglass, nounfibreglass, nounfigurine, nounfilament, nounfile, verbFilofax, nounfire extinguisher, nounfirewood, nounfitness, nounflag, nounflagon, nounflagstaff, nounflashlight, nounflat, adjectivefloodlight, nounfoam, nounfoam, verbfog, verbfolder, nounfoolscap, nounforecourt, nounfountain, nounfountain pen, nounframe, nounfunnel, nounfuse, noungadget, noungadgetry, noungargle, verbgas, nounglue, noungoggles, noungold card, noungranny knot, noungravel, noungravelled, adjectivegravelly, adjectivegrease, noungreetings card, noungrommet, noungum, noungun, noungunnysack, noungut, nounhand-held, adjectivehandle, nounhandloom, nounharness, nounhasp, nounhealth, nounhessian, nounhinge, nounhip, nounhoarding, nounhoist, nounholder, nounhook, nounhoop, nounhooter, nounhose, nounhosepipe, nounhub, nounhygiene, nounhygienic, adjectiveillness, nounindented, adjectiveinflatable, adjectiveingrained, adjectiveink, nouninn, nouninnkeeper, nouninsoluble, adjectiveivory, nounjacket, nounjack-knife, nounjoss stick, nounjuggle, verbkey, nounkeypad, nounkey ring, nounKleenex, nounknife, nounknob, nounlabel, nounladder, nounlantern, nounlatch, nounlatchkey, nounlather, nounlather, verbLCD, nounlead, nounlectern, nounlegal pad, nounlens, nounletterbox, nounlever, nounlibrary, nounlid, nounlidded, adjectivelift, nounlight, nounlight bulb, nounlink, nounlinseed oil, nounlitter bin, nounlock, nounlodestone, nounlog, nounloop, verblost property, nounmagnet, nounmagnetic, adjectivemagnifying glass, nounmale, adjectivemantle, nounmanual, adjectivemarker, nounmarker pen, nounmarket day, nounmast, nounmastic, nounmatchstick, nounmaterial, nounmeter, nounmeths, nounmode, nounmortar, nounmortise lock, nounmould, nounmounting, nounmovement, nounnail, nounnameplate, nounnet, nounnib, nounnipple, nounnon-standard, adjectivenoose, nounnotebook, nounnotepad, nounnoticeboard, nounnozzle, nounnut, nounoil, verboilcan, nounoily, adjectiveorb, nounoutfit, nounoutlet, nounovernight, adverbpack, verbpackage, nounpad, nounpad, verbpadlock, nounpaintwork, nounpantyliner, nounpaper, nounpaperclip, nounpasserby, nounpaste, verbpasteboard, nounpatron, nounpatronage, nounpatronize, verbpattern, nounpaving, nounpearl, nounpen, nounpenknife, nounpicket fence, nounpillbox, nounpince-nez, nounpinhead, nounpipe, nounpix, nounpizza parlor, nounplug, nounpocket, nounpocketbook, nounpocket calculator, nounpocket knife, nounpointer, nounpoison, nounpole, nounportfolio, nounPost-it, nounpowder, nounpowdered, adjectivepropellant, nounpropelling pencil, nounpump-action, adjectivePX, nounquarter, verbrack, nounreceptionist, nounreel, nounrefill, nounreflector, nounrefrigerate, verbregimen, nounreservation, nounreserve, verbsachet, nounsack, nounscratchpad, nounscratch paper, nounscreen, nounsealant, nounsealer, nounsearchlight, nounseason ticket, nounseat, nounself-assembly, adjectiveseptic tank, nounservice, nounservice, verbsetting, nounshade, nounsharpener, nounshovel, nounshovel, verbshovelful, nounsilver paper, nounsiphon, nounslat, nounslice, verbslot machine, nounslug, nounsmoke, nounsoot, nounsort, nounspare part, nounspigot, nounsponge, nounspool, nounspout, nounspray, nounspray can, nounspray paint, nounspring, nounstaff, nounstake, nounstalk, nounstandard, nounstaple, nounstapler, nounstationery, nounsteam, nounsteam clean, verbsteel, nounsteel wool, nounstepladder, nounstick, verbstick, nounsticker, nounstilt, nounstopper, nounstorm lantern, nounstrap, nounstreamer, nounstring, nounstub, nounsucker, nounSuperglue, nounswipe, verbswitch, nounswivel, nountab, nountack, nountag, nountag, verbtank, nountap, nountape, nountassel, nountattle, verbtea break, nounthong, nounthread, nountime-saving, adjectivetinder, nountinderbox, nountissue, nountop, nountote bag, nountowel, verbtray, nountrolley, nountube, nountubing, nountwine, nountwo-way mirror, nounumbrella, nounvent, nounvial, nounwaiting room, nounwasher, nounwaste paper, nounwatch, nounwaterspout, nounwheeled, adjectivewhistle, verbwooden, adjectivewriting paper, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
They’ve never actually given anyone the sack. He got the sack for stealing.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
They’ve never actually given anyone the sack. He got the sack for stealing. (=stop employing them because they have behaved badly or broken a rule)· Seven employees were dismissed for misconduct.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Paul's guide to this mighty sauce is three large refuse sacks of breadcrumbs to 60 pints of milk.· The bivvy bag can be stored in a separate compartment at the base of the larger compression sack.· A couple of inmates were picking up leaves from around the graves, sweeping them into a large black sack.· Setting up John retained all the filer media from the old pond in large sacks.
· They wrapped old sacks round themselves to keep out the cold.· A door at the back of the barn opened, and Dad emerged, carrying an old burlap grain sack.· It was an old plastic sack, probably used by a farmer and left outside to blow away.· The huge old canvas sack on a chain looked like a real-life victim of a game of hangman.· A return to the old plastic sack would presumably produce an equally instant reduction.· They slept on piles of old sacks in the disused pigsty, had long beards and staffs, and went barefoot.· Off I go; just an old sack chucked on the horse's back, no saddle or anything.
· On Polly's other chair was a big plastic sack of fertilizer.· Most plastic sacks contain only 5 percent recycled content.· Another reason is, plastic sacks are commonly contaminated by trash, such as paper and metal cans stuck inside.· A plastic sack costs less than 2 cents.· If everyone used plastic sacks, that would save Randalls about $ 3 million a year.
NOUN· We took our paper sacks to the parking lot.
VERB· When I offered to carry her sack she waved me aside.· The men were wearing dark green clothes and one was carrying a white sack.· An old wino had stopped a young man in his late teens who was carrying a huge sack of groceries.· It was smooth and round but he carried it like a sack.
· I grubbed for whole ones, baby skulls to fill my sack again and again.· He loaded them into Carey's shirtfront, filling it like a sack.· There is a cave in the mountains, filled with sacks of gold and bushels of jewellery.
· The point is, people don't get the sack on this paper.· He wants more than anything to get the sack, to make the big play.· Basil got the sack and next we heard Basil was trying to capture Rommel with Lord Lovatt's son.· He always stopped and would try to get me in the sack again.· The rumour was that Peace was told he would get the sack, if he dared to criticize Andrew's conduct again.· He'd never thought how she got the sacks out of her car.· They checked with the firm and they said they didn't repair it, so he got the sack.
· And despite giving up five sacks to Seattle, the offensive line has been a pleasant surprise.· Reporter: How did you give up that sack?· He comes back two weeks later saying that he has been given the sack.
· Your husband needs to relax before he hits the sack.· When they do, they hit the sack for marathon love-making sessions - that's once Bill's made the bed!· Then the two cups of decaff before you hit the sack.
· The young man was putting his grocery sack on the sidewalk.· I think I was wearing a sweatshirt when the bagger put them in my sack.· They were put in canvas sacks and taken to the church in Godstowe for burial.· He put them in the sack.· After checking to see that no hairpins were missing, Mr and Mrs Kim-Soon experimented by putting in a sack of lentils.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► the sackPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1a)a large bag made of strong rough cloth or strong paper, used for storing or carrying flour, coal, vegetables etcsack of- Then the two cups of decaff before you hit the sack.
- When they do, they hit the sack for marathon love-making sessions - that's once Bill's made the bed!
- Your husband needs to relax before he hits the sack.
- Carla caught the two of them in the sack together.
- He always stopped and would try to get me in the sack again.
- He put them in the sack.
- I took the collar off, removed the stones, put the rest in the sack and took it to the gibbet.
- Not really so marvelous in the sack.
- Nothing but sickness and dung remained in the sack of my torso.
- On the track or in the sack, Ayrton Senna remains Formula One's only true winner.
- Puss put some bran and leaves in the sack near where rabbits lived.
- This time he did not withdraw it at once but stayed motionless, his arm deep in the sack.
- Apart from the sacks of feed and the table and scales, the room held four large cages.
- By 10am the organisers are at the start, where the sacks of coal are delivered by lorry.
- He eased down the sack of fuel, put the box beside it, and felt for his key.
- In the summer dawn he ran in the hollow ways where his great grandfather had humped the sacks of corn.
- Many flooded on to the market after the Sack of Constantinople in 1204.
- Nothing but sickness and dung remained in the sack of my torso.
- Very little of it relates to the north and north-east, although Salvian does describe the sack of Trier.
- I'm bushed. I think I'll hit the hay.
- I'm ready to hit the sack.
- Usually I come home, eat dinner, watch a little TV, and then hit the sack by 9:30 or 10:00.
- Then the two cups of decaff before you hit the sack.
- When they do, they hit the sack for marathon love-making sessions - that's once Bill's made the bed!
- Your husband needs to relax before he hits the sack.
a sack of potatoes b) (also sackful) the amount that a sack can containsack of We need about a sack of rice.2the sack British English informal when someone is dismissed from their job: They’ve never actually given anyone the sack. He got the sack for stealing. She claimed she’d been threatened with the sack.3hit the sack old-fashioned informal to go to bed: It’s one o'clock – time to hit the sack.4in the sack informal in bed – used to talk about sexual activity: I bet she’s great in the sack.5the sack of something formal a situation in which an army goes through a place, destroying or stealing things and attacking people: the sack of Rome in 1527sack1 nounsack2 verb
sacksack2 verb [transitive] 1British English informal to dismiss someone from their job SYN fire: They couldn’t sack me – I’d done nothing wrong.sack somebody from something He was sacked from every other job he had.sack somebody for (doing) something He was sacked for being drunk.RegisterIn written and formal British English, people often prefer to use dismiss rather than sack:· People can be dismissed for misusing the Internet at work.2to knock down the quarterback in American football3if soldiers sack a place, they go through it destroying or stealing things and attacking people: The Goths sacked Rome.sack out phrasal verb American English informal to go to sleep: He sacked out on the sofa.