Signification
Dismiss someone from their job.
Contexte culturel
In Finnish culture, being fired is often discussed with 'lakoninen huumori' (laconic humor). Using idioms like 'antaa kenkää' helps soften the blow of a very serious social situation. Due to strong unions, 'giving the shoe' is legally difficult. When it happens, it's a big deal and usually involves 'yt-neuvottelut' (co-determination negotiations). Finnish tabloids (Iltalehti, Ilta-Sanomat) love using 'kenkää' in headlines because it is short, punchy, and fits in large fonts. While it's okay to say you 'got the shoe' to friends, it's considered poor taste to say a colleague 'got the shoe' if they are within earshot. It's strictly 'behind-the-back' language.
Use the passive
If you want to sound more natural when talking about news, use 'hänelle annettiin kenkää' (he/she was given the boot).
Not for HR
Never use this in an official email to an employee you are firing. It's too informal and could be seen as harassment.
Signification
Dismiss someone from their job.
Use the passive
If you want to sound more natural when talking about news, use 'hänelle annettiin kenkää' (he/she was given the boot).
Not for HR
Never use this in an official email to an employee you are firing. It's too informal and could be seen as harassment.
The 'Saada' trick
If you are the victim, always use 'Sain kenkää'. It's the most common way to express it.
Sports context
This is the #1 phrase used for sports coaches. If a team loses 5 games, expect to see 'Kenkää!' in the fan forums.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the person receiving 'the shoe'.
Pomo antoi _______ (minä) kenkää.
The allative case (-lle) is used for the person who is fired in this idiom.
Which sentence is a natural way to say 'He was fired'?
Valitse luonnollinen lause:
'Saada kenkää' means to be the one who is fired.
Match the Finnish phrase with its English meaning.
Yhdistä parit:
These are the core meanings of the workplace and relationship idioms.
Complete the dialogue with the correct idiom.
A: Miksi Pekka ei ole töissä? B: Koska pomo _______ sille eilen.
The context of someone not being at work suggests they were fired.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Kenkää vs. Rukkaset
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesPomo antoi _______ (minä) kenkää.
The allative case (-lle) is used for the person who is fired in this idiom.
Valitse luonnollinen lause:
'Saada kenkää' means to be the one who is fired.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are the core meanings of the workplace and relationship idioms.
A: Miksi Pekka ei ole töissä? B: Koska pomo _______ sille eilen.
The context of someone not being at work suggests they were fired.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt is informal and blunt, but not necessarily a swear word. It's common in casual conversation.
You can, but 'antaa rukkaset' is the standard idiom for that. Using 'kenkää' for a breakup sounds very harsh.
It's a fixed idiomatic form using the partitive case. 'Kengän' would mean you are literally giving one shoe.
They are 99% synonymous. 'Potkut' (kicks) is slightly more modern and common in cities.
Yes, 'irtisanoa' is the formal verb for dismissing an employee.
No, that would mean you are literally giving someone multiple pairs of shoes.
Yes, but usually in headlines or quotes. The body of the article will use more formal language.
Usually, yes. It sounds more like a punishment than a neutral layoff (lomautus).
Absolutely not. Use 'irtisanominen' or 'työsuhteen päättyminen'.
Yes, it is a universal Finnish idiom understood everywhere.
Expressions liées
antaa potkut
synonymTo fire someone (literally 'to give kicks')
saada kenkää
similarTo be fired
antaa rukkaset
contrastTo reject a romantic proposal
irtisanoa
specialized formTo dismiss/terminate
purkaa työsuhde
specialized formTo dissolve employment
