the shaft

noun

US, informal
: harsh or unfair treatment
usually used with give or get
Her boss really gave her the shaft when he promoted someone less experienced instead of her.
He got promoted and she got the shaft.

Dictionary Entries Near the shaft

Cite this Entry

“The shaft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20shaft. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!