shaft


Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

get the shaft

To be exploited, cheated, or taken advantage of; to be treated unfairly. Whenever a crappy job comes around, I'm always the one who gets the shaft. Once again it's folks living in rural communities who end up getting the shaft. Why did I get the shaft all of a sudden? I've been a loyal employee for 10 years!
See also: get, shaft

give (one) the shaft

To exploit, cheat, or take advantage of one; to treat one unfairly. Whenever a promotion comes around, management always manages to give me the shaft. Because we live in a tiny, rural community, we feel like the government tends to give us the shaft. Why did the boss give me the shaft all of a sudden? I've been a loyal employee for 10 years!
See also: give, shaft

shafted

slang Cheated or swindled; unfairly deprived or taken advantage of; screwed (over). I always bring my dad with me when I go to get my car repaired, because I'm always nervous I'll end up getting shafted by the mechanics. We should have won that game, but we were really shafted by the ref.
See also: shaft
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

get the shaft

Sl. to be cheated; to be taken advantage of; to be mistreated. (See also give someone the shaft.) Why do I get the shaft when I did nothing wrong?
See also: get, shaft

give someone the shaft

Sl. to cheat or deceive someone; to mistreat someone. (See also get the shaft.) The boss really gave Wally the shaft. Somebody always gives me the shaft.
See also: give, shaft
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

give somebody the ˈshaft

(American English, informal) treat somebody unfairly: It seems to me that the big corporations are keeping all the money for themselves and giving the shaft to ordinary consumers, as usual.
See also: give, shaft, somebody
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

give someone the shaft

tv. to cheat or deceive someone; to mistreat someone. (see also shaft.) The boss really gave Willy the shaft.
See also: give, shaft, someone

shaft

1. n. a bad deal; unfair treatment. He really gave me the shaft.
2. tv. to do wrong to someone; to harm or cheat someone. (see also shafted.) We are going to shaft this guy in a way that he will remember.

shafted

mod. beaten; bested; cheated. I really got shafted in that deal.
See also: shaft
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
See also:
References in classic literature ?
Men were hurled in every direction from the ship's deck, while she, bent and crumpled, took the last, long plunge to the scrap-heap at the shaft's base.
With her fell a shower of her own tiny fliers, for each of them had come in violent collision with the solid shaft.
View in context
"That will we presently see," quoth Robin, "and meanwhile stand thou where thou art, or else, by the bright brow of Saint AElfrida, I will show thee right good Nottingham play with a clothyard shaft betwixt thy ribs."
"If ye handle yew bow and apple shaft no better than ye do oaken cudgel, I wot ye are not fit to be called yeomen in my country; but if there be any man here that can shoot a better shaft than I, then will I bethink me of joining with you."
View in context
As the moon crossed the opening of the shaft its light flooded the whole interior, and then Tarzan saw directly across from him another opening in the opposite wall.
The wall replaced, Tarzan turned to the shaft, which was some fifteen feet wide at this point.
View in context
Straight flew his answering shaft. The Head Forester gave one cry, then fell face downward and lay still.
View in context
Xodar had told me that ascending the shaft by virtue of our repulsive rays alone would give our enemies their best chance to overtake us, since our propellers would be idle and in rising we would be outclassed by many of our pursuers.
View in context
When Lop-Ear had chewed off the head of the arrow, the shaft was withdrawn easily enough.
View in context
The archers, having previously determined by lot their order of precedence, were to shoot each three shafts in succession.
View in context
"Whatever they're up to," answered Tom, "the time has come when we can dig at the place where we can hope for results." And the following day shafts were started in the shadow of the mountain.
View in context
With screams squeals, and waving of whips that caused even the shaft horses to gallop- the other sleighs followed.
View in context
By this time a whole village was up: and windlasses, ropes, poles, candles, lanterns, all things necessary, were fast collecting and being brought into one place, to be carried to the Old Hell Shaft.
View in context
What say you, woodman: wilt leave the bucks to loose a shaft at a nobler mark?"
View in context
1-20) I sing of Artemis, whose shafts are of gold, who cheers on the hounds, the pure maiden, shooter of stags, who delights in archery, own sister to Apollo with the golden sword.
View in context
Idioms browser ?
Full browser ?