How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. R. W. Holder. 2014.
get the shaft — American, informal if someone gets the shaft, they are not treated in a fair way. The tax system is all wrong the rich just get richer and it s the poor who get the shaft … New idioms dictionary
give the shaft — give (someone) the shaft American, informal get the shaft if someone gets the shaft, they are not treated in a fair way. They gave him the shaft he lost his job for no reason at all … New idioms dictionary
give someone the shaft — give (someone) the shaft American, informal get the shaft if someone gets the shaft, they are not treated in a fair way. They gave him the shaft he lost his job for no reason at all … New idioms dictionary
shaft — [shaft, shäft] n. [ME schaft < OE sceaft, akin to Ger schaft < IE base * (s)kap , to cut with a sharp tool > SHAVE, Gr skapos, rod, L scapus, shaft, stalk] 1. a) the long stem or body of an arrow or spear b) an arrow or spear 2. a… … English World dictionary
shaft — shaft1 S3 [ʃa:ft US ʃæft] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(passage)¦ 2¦(handle)¦ 3¦(of light)¦ 4¦(engine part)¦ 5¦(for a horse)¦ 6¦(arrow)¦ 7 get the shaft ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [: Old English; Origin: sceaft] … Dictionary of contemporary English
shaft — shaft1 [ ʃæft ] noun count ** ▸ 1 main part of something long ▸ 2 long narrow passage ▸ 3 thin line of light ▸ 4 clever remark ▸ 5 arrow ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) the main part of something long and thin, not including the end: the shaft of an arrow the… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
shaft — I. n 1. the penis. A predictable but rare use of the standard term. 2a. a sex partner A good shaft. These usages are back formations from the verb. 2b. an act of sexual intercourse ► a quick shaft 3. the shaft an alternative form of a shafting.… … Contemporary slang
shaft n — At a company where they dig for gold, a labor dispute is a miner problem where no one wants to get the shaft … English expressions
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Primary and Secondary Phases — The terms Primary Phase and Secondary Phase describe the first two radio series of The Hitchhiker s Guide to the Galaxy . [The spelling of Hitchhiker s Guide has varied in different editions. For consistency this article always spells it this way … Wikipedia
Shaft construction — concerns the building of vertical openings such as Raises and Shafts. Shafts are vertical openings used for supplying equipment, personnel, and support systems to the horizontal tunnel where the pipeline is installed. They can be temporary or… … Wikipedia
