Here you will learn useful English vocabulary connected to losing a job. What other words can you use in English to say she has just lost her job or he lost his job last week?
Learn English Vocabulary connected to Losing a Job
SACKED
The most common way to describe leaving your job. It usually suggests it was not your decision.
He was late too many times for work so his boss gave him the sack (or he got the sack).
FIRED
More formal way to describe losing your job
I got fired from work two days ago.
RESIGNED
Used when you are in control of the decision to leave.
I had had enough of his orders I decided to try something different so resigned yesterday.
TO BE PUSHED OUT/PUSHED ASIDE
When you are no longer needed or you are over looked for promotion.
He was unsettled when the company was taken over. The new bosses were different from the previous owners. They really wanted him to leave. He got the feeling that he was being pushed out. He was no longer needed and was pushed aside when it came to promotions and his assistant was promoted above him.
SURPLUS TO REQUIREMENTS
This refers to someone who is no longer seen as useful or important to a business.
He was called in to his bosses office. They said that due to the lack of new business they needed to reorganise my unit and unfortunately I was now surplus to requirements and would be made redundant by the following month.
A BIT LONG IN THE TOOTH FOR THAT WORK
When someone has been working for many years in the one place and is almost part of the furniture. The bosses want to make way for younger more energetic staff.
They asked me if I thought i was a little long in the tooth for this business, after all I had been there for over 20 years.
Other Words for Losing a Job - Infographic
REDUNDANT
Companies reorganise all the time and in bad times or due now to improved efficiencies many people lose their jobs in this way. They are made redundant. Their job no longer exists.
DOWN SIZED
One of these wonderful euphemisms (ways to say something bad in a softer way to ease the pain!!). The company had to reduce its workforce due to the economic situation.
They down sized and over 100 people lost their jobs.
LET GO
A more casual or informal way to refer to a job loss.
Poor Michael lost his job last week that’s the second time this year he has been “let go”.
JUMPED BEFORE HE WAS PUSHED
When someone decides it is best to leave a company on his own terms before they ask him to leave.
He had been unsettled for a few months. He had the impression that there were going to be changes in his are. He handed in his resignation and thought it was best to jump before he was pushed out.
LEFT OF HIS OWN RECORD
Sometimes when people leave companies the market place is never sure whether the decided to leave or were they asked to leave. When someone decides themselves that it is time to move on, then we can say he/she left of their own accord. It was their decision.
David had had enough.Late nights early mornings and no appreciation for his efforts. He handed in his notice and left of his own accord three weeks later.
TOOK UP ANOTHER POSITION
People leave companies every day and for many different reasons. Without giving any great detail such announcements often simply state that
Michael has decided to leave the company to take up another position. We wish him the best of luck in his future career<.
PUT OUT TO PASTURE
To be forced to retire. It’s what they do to old horses and donkeys. When a horse can no longer run it is put in a filed (pasture) where it can spend its remaining life eating grass.
Mark was good at his job.Everybody acknowledged that. However, if they did not make room for the younger guys they would leave. “They don’t need me any more, I am being put out to pasture” – he told his wife.
There are many others. To be re-engineered! Be wary when your boss tells you he is bringing in some consultants to look at some re-engineering (changes) to the business.
More Information
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