(くび)になる

くびになる
expression
to be fired; to get the sack
informalcolloquialidiomwork
1. to be fired; to be dismissed from one's job
To lose one's job; literally 'to become a neck', from the image of a beheading. Colloquial; the transitive (くび)にする means to fire someone. In casual writing the word is often クビ in katakana.
遅刻(ちこく)ばかりして(くび)になった。
He was fired for always being late.
If I make a mistake like this, I might get fired.
The company's performance worsened and many employees were let go.

Literally 'to become a neck': the neck is what gets cut. Colloquial; in writing the word is often クビ.

Common patterns

Register

Casual and blunt. Formal announcements use 解雇(かいこ) (dismissal).

Similar words