Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

get-the-shaft

idiom
/ɡɛt ðə ʃæft/
Definition
To be treated poorly or unfairly, often implying a sense of betrayal or deception.
Examples
  • If you don’t stand up for yourself, you might end up getting the shaft at work.
  • She felt she got the shaft when her colleagues took credit for her ideas.
Meaning
The phrase indicates a situation where someone is subjected to an unfavorable circumstance or negative treatment, especially in a personal or professional context.
Synonyms
  • get screwed
  • be taken advantage of
  • be cheated
  • be double-crossed