# Synonyms For Being Fired, You Never Knew **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 23, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598 "2011-06-23T19:36:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598/1 "2011-06-23T19:36:41Z")
Most of us are familiar with the basic synonyms for being fired. “Let go,” “Discharged,” “Sacked” “Axed” but there are a few I never heard. One was from the Britcom, _Are You Being Served_. “Am I being made redundant”? Which took me a bit to figure out. The other is from the Australian soap opera _Prisoner_ _(Prisoner: Cell Block H_). “My husband is being retrenched” Any other unusual (at least to you) synonyms you know of for being fired ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598/2 "2011-06-23T19:41:32Z")
Bend over, here it comes (BOHICA). I’m hoping “skullfucking” will take over some of the heavy lifting, but it’s not one I’ve heard except by me (and to me). ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598/3 "2011-06-23T19:45:12Z")
Shitcanned. Also, in _Treme_, a character had his position w/ a company become “Untenable.” ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598/4 "2011-06-23T19:48:10Z")
Canned, or more formally, shit-canned. Booted, kicked out to the curb, taken out with the trash, told to hit the bricks. Dismissed, excused, terminated, walked out, shown the door, and told not to let the door hit his/her ass on the way out. ---
**Author:** ![BigDadWolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@BigDadWolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDadWolf)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598/5 "2011-06-23T19:51:39Z")
When was let go from a Massive Corporation Inc., I was told I had been selected to participate in an “Involuntary Employee Resource Program”. If I hadn’t known they were doing layoffs I might of thought it was a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598/6 "2011-06-23T19:58:01Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > One was from the Britcom, _Are You Being Served_. “Am I being made redundant”? Which took me a bit to figure out. Being made redundant is more specific than being fired: it means that your position is being abolished, and they won’t replace you after you leave. In many places, you can get specific compensation for being made redundant that you wouldn’t get if you were being sacked for your personal incompetence or unsatisfactory performance. (I know this because I got about 8 months’ pay, and some other benefits, because I was made redundant in Australia about 15 years ago.) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598/7 "2011-06-23T19:59:57Z")
When I worked at AT&T they decided to print their org chart upside down, to show that the top management’s job was supporting those below, and they put the customer on the top. One guy promptly said of an exec who was fired that he had been promoted to customer. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598/8 "2011-06-23T20:03:31Z")
Re-purposed. Right-sized. Aligning with the new paradgm. Leaving to explore other opportunities. Putting on the red shirt. Starting up the kiln. Becoming a consultant. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598/9 "2011-06-23T20:12:09Z")
It may not be universal for “fired” but in my case I was “downsized” and “permitted to draw early retirement.” No matter the intent, I was “let go.” ---
**Author:** ![Registered\_at\_Last](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc79bd/32.png) [@Registered\_at\_Last](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Registered_at_Last)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598/10 "2011-06-23T20:12:35Z")
Others from my days in Telecomm … how about [ul] [li]Correcting a skills mismatch[/li][li]Being pink slipped [/li][li]Being Outsourced[/li][li]Moving the operation off-shore[/li][li]Getting the big white envelope[/li][li]Not surviving the latest round[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598/11 "2011-06-23T20:22:18Z")
In DC, back in, I think, the 80s, a lot of public employees were subject to RIF (Reduction In Force). ---
**Author:** ![LonghornDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598/12 "2011-06-23T20:30:53Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > In DC, back in, I think, the 80s, a lot of public employees were subject to RIF (Reduction In Force). It is still very common to refer to layoffs as RIFs. ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598/13 "2011-06-23T20:40:07Z")
“Restructured” In my corner of the staffing industry, we operate using “talent pools.” Basically, we do all the pre-employment screenings and testings and have them all ready so the minute a job comes open at one our clients, we can place one of our candidates in the role. During slower times, clients will “return people to the talent pool” which is easier than laying someone off. However, some clients use “returning to the pool” as a soft-soap way of firing people. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598/14 "2011-06-23T21:01:38Z")
Oh, shoot. I can’t remember the name of the SF/Fantasy series where one wasn’t thrown out of the bar, one was ‘given an invitation to the world.’ That phrase could work for firing as well. [Calahan’s Bar? Sigh. It’s been too long.] ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598/15 "2011-06-23T22:23:25Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > In DC, back in, I think, the 80s, a lot of public employees were subject to RIF (Reduction In Force). My mom has always referred to this as the time she “got riffed.” I didn’t understand what this meant until maybe last year. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598/16 "2011-06-23T23:45:36Z")
Nobody mentioned the all-too-common “laid-off”. In universities they say you have been “denied tenure”. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Woo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr.Woo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Woo)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598/17 "2011-06-23T23:57:17Z")
Got a package (severance package, of course) Joined the Beach Club or at the beach Caught in the last round Managed out Ditched, dumped, kicked to the curb Got a visit from Vader (we used to say this back in the early 80’s at Atari; the HR guy had a really deep voice) ---
**Author:** ![Kiwi\_Fruit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiwi_fruit/32/12_2.png) [@Kiwi\_Fruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiwi_Fruit)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598/18 "2011-06-24T00:05:08Z")
Received a DCM (Don’t Come Monday). Pink slipped. Downsized. ---
**Author:** ![ryobserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@ryobserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryobserver)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598/19 "2011-06-24T00:06:38Z")
HR person, to me (years ago): “So, you’re being affected by a staff reduction.” Gee, I thought I was getting laid off. People too important to fire (chief executives, elected officials) may “decide” to “pursue other opportunities” or “spend more time with their families” instead. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598/20 "2011-06-24T05:23:14Z")
I swear, I always seem to be the only one to always get the ol’… “You are hereby being forcibly restrained and removed from the premises, effective immediately. Deadly force has been approved if deemed necessary.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synonyms-for-being-fired-you-never-knew/586598.md?page=2)