How do you use "Golden handshake" in a sentence?

He got a golden handshake when he retired. The CEO left with a golden handshake worth millions. They offered her a golden handshake to leave early. Golden handshakes for executives while workers get nothing.

Golden handshake

Q: What does "Golden handshake" mean?

A generous severance package when leaving a job A substantial payment or benefits package given to an employee upon leaving, especially when being made redundant or encouraged to retire early. Often controversial when given to executives.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★☆☆ Moderate Neutral

Practice this with flashcards, quizzes & audio on WordLoci →

Meaning: A generous severance package when leaving a job

离职时丰厚的遣散费

Un generoso paquete de indemnización al dejar un trabajo

退職時の高額な退職金

퇴직 시 받는 고액의 퇴직금 패키지

A substantial payment or benefits package given to an employee upon leaving, especially when being made redundant or encouraged to retire early. Often controversial when given to executives.

员工离职时获得的大笔款项或福利，特别是在被裁员或被鼓励提前退休时。给高管发放时常引发争议。

Un pago sustancial o paquete de beneficios dado a un empleado al irse, especialmente al ser despedido o animado a jubilarse anticipadamente. A menudo controvertido cuando se da a ejecutivos.

退職時に従業員に与えられる多額の支払いや福利厚生パッケージ。特にリストラや早期退職を促される場合に使われる。役員に対して支払われる場合は物議を醸すことが多い。

퇴직 시 직원에게 지급되는 상당한 금액의 퇴직금 또는 혜택 패키지. 특히 구조조정이나 조기 퇴직 권유 시에 제공된다. 임원에게 주어질 때 논란이 되기도 한다.

Examples

He got a golden handshake when he retired.
他退休时拿了一大笔遣散费
Recibió una indemnización generosa al jubilarse
彼は退職時に高額な退職金をもらった
그는 퇴직할 때 고액의 퇴직금을 받았어.
The CEO left with a golden handshake worth millions.
CEO带着数百万的遣散费离开了
El CEO se fue con millones de indemnización
CEOは数百万の退職金を手にして去った
CEO는 수백만 달러의 퇴직금을 받고 떠났어.
They offered her a golden handshake to leave early.
他们给她开出丰厚条件让她提前离职
Le ofrecieron una buena indemnización para que se fuera antes
彼女に早期退職の条件として高額な退職金を提示した
그녀에게 조기 퇴직 조건으로 고액의 퇴직금을 제안했어.
Golden handshakes for executives while workers get nothing.
高管拿高额遣散费，工人什么都没有
Indemnizaciones millonarias para ejecutivos mientras los trabajadores no reciben nada
役員には高額退職金、労働者には何もなし
임원들은 고액 퇴직금을 받는데 직원들은 아무것도 못 받아.

Pronunciation

/ˈɡəʊldən ˈhændʃeɪk/

Usage Guide

Context: employment, redundancy, retirement

Tone: neutral to critical

✓ Do Say

Golden handshake.
黄金握手
Indemnización generosa
高額退職金
거액의 퇴직금.
Got a golden handshake.
拿到了丰厚遣散费
Recibió una buena indemnización
高額退職金をもらった
거액의 퇴직금을 받았어.
Offered a golden handshake.
被开出丰厚条件
Le ofrecieron una indemnización
高額退職金を提示された
거액의 퇴직금을 제안받았어.

✗ Don't Say

Can imply unfairness
可能暗示不公平
Puede implicar injusticia
不公平を暗示することがある
불공정함을 암시할 수 있음
Often critical of executive pay
常用于批评高管薪酬
A menudo crítico con los sueldos ejecutivos
役員報酬に批判的な文脈で使われることが多い
임원 보수에 대한 비판적 뉘앙스가 많음

Common Mistakes

Not always positive—can imply excessive executive compensation
Related to golden parachute

Origin & History

From the idea of a parting handshake made 'golden' by a generous payout. Became common in British business in the 1960s.

Etymology: Handshake + golden (valuable)

First recorded: British, 1960s

Cultural Context

Era: 1960s onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Business, corporate

Pop culture: Corporate scandals; Executive compensation debates

Regional notes: British origin. Universal in business English.

Variations

Golden handshakeGolden parachuteGolden goodbye