⚠️This fact has been debunked
This is a widely circulated folk etymology with no credible historical or linguistic evidence. Etymologists trace 'fired' (dismissed from employment) to American English circa 1877-1885, likely as wordplay on 'discharge' (both dismissing someone and firing a gun). The burning houses story is an internet myth with no documentation in reputable etymological sources.
A legend suggests that clans of long ago that wanted to get rid of their unwanted people without killing them used to burn their houses down - hence the expression "to get fired."
The Burning Houses Origin of 'Getting Fired' Is a Myth
If you've spent time on social media or trivia websites, you've probably encountered this compelling story: centuries ago, clans would burn down the houses of unwanted members as a way to expel them without outright murder, giving us the phrase "to get fired." It's vivid, memorable, and completely made up.
This tale falls into a category linguists call folk etymology—plausible-sounding origin stories that spread widely despite having zero historical basis. The burning houses legend has been recycled through Celtic clans, early American settlers, and various other vague historical settings, but not a single credible source documents this practice or connects it to workplace terminology.
The Real Origin: A Linguistic Play on Words
The actual history is less dramatic but more interesting. "Fired" meaning dismissed from employment first appeared in American English around 1877-1885. The phrase emerged as clever wordplay on "discharge," which had a double meaning: dismissing someone from a position and firing a gun.
This wasn't unique—workplace slang has always borrowed from other contexts. An even earlier usage from 1871 used "fire out" to mean ejecting or throwing someone out of a place, which likely influenced the employment sense. By the late 1800s, "you're fired" had become standard American workplace vocabulary.
Why Fake Origins Spread
Folk etymologies persist because they offer satisfying narratives. A story about vengeful clans and burning houses is far more memorable than "it's a pun on the word discharge." These false origins often include just enough historical detail to seem credible—vague references to "clans of long ago" or "ancient times" that can't be easily verified.
The internet has turbocharged this phenomenon. Once a fake etymology appears on a popular trivia site or social media post, it gets copied, shared, and eventually cited as if it were fact. The burning houses story has appeared in countless "amazing facts" compilations despite having no support from etymological dictionaries, historical records, or linguistic research.
The NCR Legend
There is one fire-related story with some historical basis, though it's not the origin of the phrase. In the 1910s, John Henry Patterson of National Cash Register Company allegedly had an executive's desk moved to the lawn and set on fire as a dramatic dismissal. This may have popularized "you're fired" as a catchphrase, but the term predates this incident by several decades.
Language evolves through usage, borrowing, and creative adaptation—not through elaborate rituals involving arson. The next time someone shares the burning houses origin, you can confidently respond: "Actually, you're fired... from the position of etymological accuracy."