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furlough

KIRU

furlough

Pronunciation

IPA for "furlough" : /ˈfɜː(ɹ).ləʊ/

  • Breakdown by Syllable:

    • fur (ˈfɜː(ɹ))

      • /ˈfɜː/ - "fur": "ɜ" represents the sound in "bird" and "turn", "ː" indicates a long vowel sound

      • /(ɹ)** (optional): silent "r" sound, usually present in American English pronunciation

    • lough (ləʊ)

      • /ləʊ/ - "lough": "l" sound, "ə" represents a short schwa sound like "uh", "ʊ" represents the sound in "boot"

Word Form Variations

The word "furlough" has several word form variations depending on its part of speech:

Noun:

  • Singular: furlough

  • Plural: furloughs

Verb:

  • Present Tense (3rd person singular): furloughs (e.g., The company furloughs employees due to budget cuts.)

  • Present Participle: furloughing (e.g., They are furloughing workers for the next quarter.)

  • Past Tense: furloughed (e.g., Many workers were furloughed during the pandemic.)

  • Past Participle: furloughed (e.g., The furloughed employees received unemployment benefits.)

Adjective:

  • Furloughed (e.g., She is a furloughed teacher hoping to return to school soon.)

Note: There are no other verb conjugations or comparative/superlative forms for "furlough" as an adjective.

Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms

The word "furlough" has several word form variations depending on its part of speech:

Noun:

  • Singular: furlough

  • Plural: furloughs

Verb:

  • Present Tense (3rd person singular): furloughs (e.g., The company furloughs employees due to budget cuts.)

  • Present Participle: furloughing (e.g., They are furloughing workers for the next quarter.)

  • Past Tense: furloughed (e.g., Many workers were furloughed during the pandemic.)

  • Past Participle: furloughed (e.g., The furloughed employees received unemployment benefits.)

Adjective:

  • Furloughed (e.g., She is a furloughed teacher hoping to return to school soon.)

Note: There are no other verb conjugations or comparative/superlative forms for "furlough" as an adjective.

Examples of Use

Noun:

  • Book: "The war had caused widespread unemployment, with many factories forced to implement furloughs due to material shortages." (Fictional historical novel)

  • Newspaper: "The airline announced a company-wide furlough of 20,000 employees as travel demand plummeted." (Financial newspaper)

  • Online Publication: "Teachers prepare for potential furloughs as school districts grapple with budget shortfalls." (Education news website)

Verb:

  • Movie: In the movie "The Big Short," a character is furloughed from his job on Wall Street due to the financial crisis.

  • TV Show: A sitcom plot revolves around a group of friends dealing with the stress of being furloughed from their jobs.

  • Social Media: #FurloughedWorkers trends on Twitter as employees share their experiences of temporary layoffs.

Adjective:

  • News Interview: "The furloughed factory worker expressed his concerns about the impact on his family's finances." (TV news interview)

  • Casual Conversation: "Hey, did you hear about Sarah? She got furloughed from her marketing position." (Talking with a friend)

  • Company Announcement: "In an email to staff, the CEO announced that a number of furloughed employees would be called back to work as business conditions improve." (Internal company communication)

10 Famous Quotes Using the term Furlough

Due to the relative rarity of "furlough" compared to other words, there aren't many famous quotes that explicitly use it. Here are ten alternative options that capture similar sentiments:

  1. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." - Franklin D. Roosevelt (This quote emphasises perseverance during hardship, similar to the uncertainty faced by furloughed workers.)

  2. "Hope is a renewable resource." - John McCain (This quote highlights the optimism needed during a temporary setback, like a furlough.)

  3. "It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light." - Aristotle (Similar to the previous quote, this emphasises finding hope during a difficult time.)

  4. "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart." - Helen Keller (This quote speaks to the emotional impact of a work disruption, even if temporary.)

  5. "Every adversity, every failure, every heartbreak carries with it the seed of a greater or similar advantage." - Napoleon Hill (This quote suggests that a furlough might lead to unexpected opportunities.)

  6. "Change is inevitable. Growth is optional." - John Maxwell (This quote highlights the potential for personal growth during a time of forced downtime, like a furlough.)

  7. "The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra." - Jimmy Johnson (This quote could be interpreted as the motivation to find new skills or pursue passions during a furlough.)

  8. "Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great." - John D. Rockefeller (This quote could be seen as encouragement to seek new opportunities after a furlough.)

  9. "The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." - Ralph Waldo Emerson (This quote emphasises the individual's power to choose their path, even during a period of uncertainty like a furlough.)

  10. "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost all my games. In all these years, failure is why I succeed." - Michael Jordan (This quote emphasises the resilience needed to overcome a setback, like a furlough, and ultimately achieve success.)

Etymology

The word "furlough" is like a hand-me-down from the Dutch language! Back in the 1600s, Dutch had a word "verlof" which meant "leave of absence." English speakers liked the sound of it and borrowed it, changing it a bit to "furlough" by the mid-1600s. Originally, it was just used as a noun to describe someone getting a break, especially a soldier going home for a visit. The verb form, meaning to put someone on furlough, came along later in the 1700s.

Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Furlough

  • Interestingly, there aren't many common phrases or idioms that directly use "furlough." However, here are some related expressions that capture similar situations:

    • Be put on ice: This informal phrase means to be temporarily sidelined or put on hold, similar to being furloughed.

    • Between a rock and a hard place: This idiom describes a difficult situation with no easy choices, which can be the case for furloughed workers.

    • Tighten one's belt: This refers to reducing spending due to financial constraints, which might be necessary during a furlough.

    • Go back to the drawing board: This idiom means to re-evaluate a plan or approach, which might be needed if a company furloughs workers and needs to adjust its operations.

    • See if the grass is greener on the other side: This expression refers to considering alternative options, which some furloughed workers might do while they're not employed.

    While not directly using "furlough," these phrases and idioms express the challenges and potential consequences associated with temporary layoffs.

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Source Information

Definition of furlough from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.