get (one's) ass in a sling

rude slang

1. To be severely punished or berated for some wrongdoing. You're gonna get your ass in a sling if the boss finds out you've been using the company credit card without permission! A: "Where's Sarah?" B: "I heard she got her ass in a sling after her parents caught her sneaking out over the weekend." You borrowed Joanie's car and put a big dent in it? Man, you deserve to get your ass in a sling!

2. To be sad, upset, annoyed, or disappointed (possibly due to having been punished). A: "What's wrong with Paul?" B: "Oh, he'll be fine. He always gets his ass in a sling when the boss shoots down one of his dumb ideas." I hope you didn't get your ass in a sling because of the things I said to you—I was just joking! Try not to get your ass in a sling over the promotion. None of us stood a chance with the CEO's daughter in the running.

ass in a sling, to have/get one's

To be in deep trouble. The ass referred to is not the animal but the vulgar term for buttocks. The expression probably originated in the American South in the nineteenth century, and it is thought to refer to a kick in the buttocks so strong that the victim requires the kind of sling used to support an injured arm. The saying was common by about 1930.