Hit the hay and hit the sack are two idioms that mean to go to bed. The assumption is that hit the hay and hit the sack come from the fact that mattresses used to consist of cloth sacks stuffed with hay. ... Before 1880 hit the hay meant to sleep in a barn, presumably where the farm's hay was stored.

Where did the phrase in the sack come from?

The probable derivation of this phrase is an allusion to tradesmen, who owned their own tools and took them with them in a bag or sack when they were dismissed from employment. It has been known in France since the 17th century, as 'On luy a donné son sac'.

What does it mean to get the sack?

informal. : to be dismissed suddenly from a job : to get fired She got the sack for always being late.