Phrase guide

walk the plank

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈwɔːk ðə ˈplænk/
  • General-American: /ˈwɔk ðə ˈplænk/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

On an early naval vessel or pirate ship: to be forced to walk off the end of a gangplank (a plank of wood extending outwards from the side of the vessel) and plunge into the ocean and drown, used as a method of killing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: also, figuratively, historical

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: walk the gangplank

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To be forced to resign from a position in an organization.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • After he was caught selling company secrets, it’s not surprising they made him walk the plank.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: walk the gangplank

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Japanese: 板歩きの刑 (ita aru ki no kei) — to be forced to walk off the end of a plank of wood and plunge into the ocean and drown
  • Swedish: gå på plankan — to be forced to walk off the end of a plank of wood and plunge into the ocean and drown
  • Swedish: gå plankan — to be forced to walk off the end of a plank of wood and plunge into the ocean and drown
  • Finnish: savustaa ulos — to be forced to resign from a position in an organization
  • German: über die Planke gehen — to be forced to resign from a position in an organization
  • Japanese: (強制的に)地位から落とされる — to be forced to resign from a position in an organization
  • Swedish: gå på plankan — to be forced to resign from a position in an organization