send ˈsʌmwʌn ˈpækɪŋ
General
informal
intermediate
- Literally:
- Making someone pack their bags and leave
What does "send someone packing" mean?
- To dismiss someone abruptly
- To reject or turn away someone firmly
Examples
- She sent the salesman packing.
- If he doesn't improve, we'll send him packing.
- The team sent the competition packing.
Origin
From telling someone to pack their belongings and go. Used since the 16th century.
How to use it
Implies firm, sometimes rude dismissal. Can be used for defeating competitors.
Similar expressions
dismiss
reject
kick out
show the door
Opposites
welcome
accept
invite in
Related idioms
- actions speak louder than words
What people do is more important than what they say
- better safe than sorry
It's better to be careful and prevent problems than to take risks
- so far so good
Things have gone well up to now
- easier said than done
Something is more difficult to do than to talk about
- make a long story short
To summarize or get to the point
- to make matters worse
In addition to existing problems
Use it in a practice answer
Try "send someone packing" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.