idiom · formal
golden handshake
UK/ˌɡəʊldən ˈhændˌʃeɪk/US/ˌɡoʊldən ˈhændˌʃeɪk/GOLD·en·HAND·shake
A large payment given to someone when they leave a job, often as severance.
Examples
“The CEO left with a reported £2 million golden handshake.”
“Many senior managers accepted a golden handshake as part of the redundancy package.”
“He was offered a generous golden handshake to step down.”
Band 8 sentence
“When the company restructured, several executives left with sizeable golden handshakes, which sparked public debate.”
Collocations
- receive a golden handshake
- offer someone a golden handshake
Word family
Common mistakes
He received golden handshake→He received a golden handshake
golden-handshake→golden handshake
Say it for a higher band
5severance pay→6redundancy package→7+golden handshake
Synonyms
severance pay
Easily confused
severance pay
“She received a generous severance package after the company restructured.”
Related words
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