give someone the shaft

give (one) the shaft

To exploit, cheat, or take advantage of one; to treat one unfairly. Whenever a promotion comes around, management always manages to give me the shaft. Because we live in a tiny, rural community, we feel like the government tends to give us the shaft.

See also: give, shaft

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

give someone the shaft

tv. to cheat or deceive someone; to mistreat someone. (see also shaft.) The boss really gave Willy the shaft.

See also: give, shaft, someone

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.