have ass in a sling

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have (one's) ass in a sling

rude slang To severely punish or berate one for a wrongdoing. When the boss finds out I haven't handed in my budget yet, he'll have my ass in a sling.

See also: ass, have, sling

have one's ass in a sling

 and have got one's ass in a sling

Sl. to be dejected or hurt; to be pouting. (Potentially offensive. Use only with discretion.) She's got her ass in a sling because she got stood up. So you didn't get a perfect score. Why do you have your ass in a sling?

See also: ass, have, sling

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.

See also: ass, get, have