sack

A bag for carrying or storing things, often made of strong cloth or paper.

• The sack was full of potatoes.
• She carried two heavy sacks into the barn.
• We collected the empty paper sacks after lunch.

How to use it: sack of something (He carried a sack of flour into the kitchen.)

Similar words: bag

Common phrases: paper sack, sack of potatoes, empty sack, sack of grain

A bed, especially when talking about going to sleep.

• I’m ready to hit the sack.
• We hit the sack early after the long drive.
• He stayed in the sack until noon.

Similar words: bed

Common phrases: hit the sack, in the sack

The violent stealing and destruction that happens when an army takes control of a town or city.

• The sack left the city in ruins.
• Many treasures disappeared during the sack of the town.
• Survivors described the brutal sack in their letters.

How to use it: the sack of somewhere (The book describes the sack of the ancient city.)

Similar words: looting, plundering, pillage

Common phrases: sack of something, brutal sack

The amount a large bag holds; in older trade, a measure whose size depended on the goods and place.

• We used a whole sack of flour.
• The farmer sold ten sacks of wheat.
• The weight of a sack varied between regions.

How to use it: a sack of something (The mill sold flour by the sack.)

Similar words: bagful

Common phrases: sack of wheat, sack of flour, per sack

To make someone leave their job because you no longer want them to work for you.

• The company sacked its manager.
• She was sacked for repeatedly arriving late.
• Will they sack more workers this month?

How to use it: sack someone for something/doing something (They sacked him for stealing from the shop.)

Similar words: fire, dismiss

Opposites: hire

Common phrases: sack someone, sack a manager

To steal goods and cause destruction in a town or city, especially after taking it by force.

• The army sacked the town.
• Invaders had sacked the city several times.
• Soldiers sacked the palace and stole its treasures.

Similar words: loot, plunder, pillage

Common phrases: sack a city, sack a town

To put things into bags for carrying or storing.

• Please sack the potatoes.
• She sacked the groceries while I paid.
• The grain was sacked and loaded onto a truck.

Similar words: bag, pack

Common phrases: sack the groceries, sack potatoes, sack grain

To stop bothering with something, give it up, or leave it until later.

• Let’s sack the homework tonight.
• We sacked that plan and stayed home.
• I’ll sack it off until tomorrow.

Similar words: abandon, drop, give up

Common phrases: sack the homework, sack that idea, sack it off