English idiom

send someone packing

Register · Neutral CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

to dismiss someone or force them to leave quickly and decisively

Word picture

A dismissed person is pictured being told to pack their belongings immediately and depart.

Example

“The restaurant sent the rude customer packing after he insulted the staff.”

Dictionary details

Component words

send packing

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

show someone the door

to dismiss someone or make it clear that they must leave

bury the hatchet

to reconcile with someone and bring a quarrel to an end

call it a day

To decide to stop working on something for now.

do the job

to be good enough to achieve the desired result

drive someone up the wall

to make someone feel extremely annoyed or frustrated

go with the flow

To adjust calmly to circumstances or prevailing behavior instead of resisting them.

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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