have ass in a sling

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have (one's) ass in a sling

1. 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.
2. rude slang To be sad, upset, or disappointed (possibly due to having been punished). A: "Why does Phil have his ass in a sling today?" B: "I think the boss wasn't thrilled that he handed in his budget late." I hope you don't have your ass in a sling because of the things I said to you—I was just joking!
See also: ass, have, sling
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

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
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • sling
  • nail (one) to the wall
  • nail somebody to the wall