15+ Slang Words For Retirement (And How To Use Them)

Written by Gabriel Cruz - Foodie, Animal Lover, Slang & Language Enthusiast

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To retire means to take a permanent leave from one's profession or career. But the same word also means to end a particular activity, as in "to retire from the long day." We have gathered a list of slang words for retirement. Enjoy reading!

Slang Words for Retirement (in Alphabetical Order)

Call It a Day

Meaning:

  • (Verb) Typically to announce the end of a meeting or a work schedule, “calling it a day” can also mean one’s permanent leave.

  • Example: After 30 years of service, the bank’s manager is finally calling it a day.

Call It a Day

Call It Quits

Meaning:

  • (Verb) To take one’s leave on a bitter note.

  • Example: When Camille’s boss finally gave her the overdue severance pay, she called it quits with him and his long working hours.

Call It Quits

Counterpoise

Meaning:

  • (Verb) Doing an opposite action but resulting in an overall balance.

  • Example: The retirement of the CEO counterpoised the promotion of his son to the CEO position.

Counterpoise

Golden Handshake

Meaning:

  • (Idiom) A sending away payment for someone laid off earlier than expected.

  • Example: Stefan refuses to sign the agreement with his employer because it does not guarantee a golden handshake.

Golden Handshake

Green Light

Meaning:

  • (Idiom) Basic on traffic light signals, green light signals go.

  • Example: Mr. Evans knew it was time for the green light when his boss gave him a box to clean up his desk space.

Green Light

Hang Up One's Hat

Meaning:

  • (Idiom) Based on how all working gentlemen wore a top hat in the 1800’s, “to hang up one’s hat” is to retire from a job.

  • Example: The top sales agents, Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Andrews, hang up their hats today.

Hang Up One's Hat

Leave Taking

Meaning:

  • (Verb) To say goodbye in an occupational setting. 

  • Example: So that Mr. Jeffrey’s leave taking won’t be filled with tears, his colleagues threw him a party instead.

Leave Taking

Out to Pasture

Meaning:

  • (Verb) An Australian slang for employees to retire at a certain age per company policy.

  • Example: The old security guard is not willing to be sent out to pasture because he still needs to support his grandchildren.

Out to Pasture

Pack In

Meaning:

  • (Verb) To clean and pack up one’s cubicle or desk space because of retirement.

  • Example: Mr. Holmes packed in his stuff before dropping by the manager’s office.

Pack In

Pension Off

Meaning:

  • (Verb) To retire from one’s work and receive financial support thereafter.

  • Example: Dr. Cruise chose the highest insurance to pay in all his professional years so he can be pensioned off well.

Pension Off

Snowbird

Meaning:

  • (Noun) A Canadian slang for a retiree who travels south when it gets colder in their part of Canada.

  • Example: The loving snowbirds signed up for a guided tour to the Southern parts of Canada.

Snowbird

Stand Aside 

Meaning:

  • (Verb) To retire and make space for those who will proceed or go on with their careers.

  • Example: The store owner will stand aside tomorrow so that his son and daughter-in-law can take over the store.

Stand Aside

Superannuate

Meaning:

  • (Verb) The formal slang of letting someone go professionally and with a pension.

  • Example: The HR committee keeps a list of employees to be superannuated soon.

Superannuate

Take Off

Meaning:

  • (Verb) Like how planes leave or take off from the ground, “take off” can be a conversational slang for retiring.

  • Example: Mrs. Johnson coolly takes off when her retirement d-day finally arrives.

Take Off

Throw in the Towel

Meaning:

  • (Idiom) Usually to surrender or give up, “to throw in the towel” can also mean that it’s time to put an end to things like employment.

  • Example: Miranda may have formally thrown in the towel as the creative director but she is still a valued design consultant. 

Throw in the Towel

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