PhrasesHub

Send packing

    Definitions

      • dismiss or reject someone
        To tell someone to leave or go away, usually because they are unwanted or not needed

      • discourage someone
        Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

    Examples of Send packing

    • The CEO decided to send the underperforming sales manager packing after several failed attempts to improve his performance.

      In this example, "send packing" means to terminate or dismiss someone from their job, particularly when they have been performing poorly. It is often used in a situation where someone has been given multiple chances to improve but has failed to do so.

    • After a heated argument, the hostess asked the unruly guest to pack his bags and leave the restaurant.

      In this example, "send packing" means to ask someone to leave a place, particularly when they have caused trouble or disrupted the peace. It can be used in a social or professional setting to indicate that someone's behavior is not acceptable.

    • The authorities sent the convicted criminal packing to jail after he was found guilty of committing a serious crime.

      In this example, "send packing" means to move someone to a specific location, particularly when they have been found guilty of a crime or an offense. It is often used in a legal context to indicate that someone has been punished for their actions.

    • The team captain told the inconsistent players that if they continued to underperform, they would be sent packing from the team.

      In this example, "send packing" means to remove someone from a team or a group, particularly when they have failed to meet the required standards of performance. It is often used in a sports context to indicate that someone's position in the team is in doubt due to poor performance.

    • The CEO decided to send the underperforming sales manager packing after reviewing the company's quarterly sales figures.

      The idiom "send packing" is used to describe the act of forcibly dismissing someone from their job. In this example, the CEO decided to terminate the sales manager for poor performance.

    • After losing to his rival in the election, the defeated politician was sent packing by his supporters.

      The phrase "sent packing" can also be used to describe the act of leaving a place or situation suddenly and unexpectedly, often due to failure or defeat. In this example, the politician's supporters left him after he lost the election.

    • The security guard told the rowdy patrons to leave the club or he would send them packing.

      This use of the idiom is more literal, highlighting the act of physically removing someone from a place. In this example, the security guard threatened to eject the rowdy patrons from the club.

    • The new boss didn't mince words when she announced that she would send packing anyone who didn't meet her high standards for performance.

      This example showcases the versatility of the idiom, as it can be used in various contexts and sentence structures. In this instance, the boss warned her subordinates that they would be terminated if their performance fell below her expectations.


    Conclusion

    "Send packing" can be used to indicate either the act of dismissing or rejecting someone, or to discourage someone from pursuing a particular action. It is a straightforward and direct way to convey the message of rejection or discouragement.

    Origin of "Send packing"

    The origin of the idiom "send packing" can be traced back to the 16th century. The word "send" refers to the act of directing someone or something to a specific place, while "packing" originally meant to pack one's belongings before leaving. Over time, the phrase evolved to signify the act of telling someone to leave or go away, often with a sense of dismissal or rejection.

    The idiom may have originated from the practice of asking unwanted guests or visitors to pack their belongings and leave, thus "sending them packing." Over the years, it has become a commonly used expression to convey the act of dismissing or rejecting someone.