Have you ever heard a French person drop the word sacquer into casual conversation? 

You might assume this is an anglicism of the verb ‘to sack,’ but watch out for context as sacquer actually has three slightly different meanings. 

We look at the origins behind the word and explain how to use it in everyday French. 

This informal saying has a few different meanings: it can refer to the idea of receiving a bad grade, and also describe getting fired from a job. 

The dictionary of the Académie Française states that the word derives from the old expression: donner [à quelqu'un] son sac et ses quilles (to give someone their bag and skittles). 

This was said to describe ‘dismissing’ a person or sending them home. 

It can be linked to the English homonym of similar meaning: to get sacked. 

Use this as a casual way of saying that someone has lost their job:

Il a sacqué la stagiaire parce qu'elle avait volé de l'argent dans la caisse. - He sacked the intern because she stole money from the till.

You can also say this word to imply a strong dislike for someone:

Mon voisin n'a jamais pu me sacquer. Il essayait toujours de m'éviter. - My neighbour never could stand me. He always tried to avoid me.

Use it in the context of receiving a bad grade or being harshly marked:

J'ai toujours fait de mon mieux, mais cela n'a pas empêché mon prof d’anglais de me sacquer. Il m’a mis 6 sur 20. - I always tried my best, but that never stopped my English teacher from

undermarking me. I got 6 out of 20.

It is informal language and can be used with friends and family. It can appear in spoken and written French, in casual situations.

You should avoid saying this in formal contexts as it could come across as unprofessional or inappropriate. 

Read also: Learning French: when and why do we say être un rat?