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Mr. Tom Posted 6 years ago
Vocabulary

Idiom: Give someone the shaft

Hi

I recently ran into this idiom (give someone the shaft) in a short story written by an American writer. Could you please tell me if this fairly common in everyday conversation?

Give someone the shaft = upset someone

Thanks,

Tom

  

Top answer

It means roughly betray someone;s trust, treat someone very unfairly. It's a vulgar expression because it has a strong sexual connotation. I don't hear it much these days.

  • It means roughly betray someone;s trust, treat someone very unfairly.
  • It's a vulgar expression because it has a strong sexual connotation.
  • I don't hear it much these days.
  • Clive
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2 Answers
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It means roughly betray someone;s trust, treat someone very unfairly.

It's a vulgar expression because it has a strong sexual connotation.

I don't hear it much these days.

Clive

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Mr. TomGive someone the shaft = upset someone

It is much more intense than that.

For example, you and your colleague are competing for an advancement to a managerial position. He sneaks behind your back and tells the supervisor vicious lies about you. Instead of getting a promotion, you got fired.

You got shafted!

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