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# garden leave

phrase (noun phrase: garden leave; also «gardening leave»; UK, Ireland, Australia)

«garden leave» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (euphemism, work) when an employee who is leaving (or has been pushed out) is told to stay at home on full pay and not come to work until the job officially ends, often so they cannot take secrets to a rival.
2. (humorous) any time off work you didn't ask for.

### In the lessons

British business and HR jargon; it sounds relaxing (you can do your gardening) but often hides a dismissal or a disagreement. Official-informal, UK, Australia, Ireland.

### Examples

- The manager was put on garden leave before joining a rival firm.
- He's on garden leave for three months, still paid but not allowed in the office.
- Gossip at work says the boss is on garden leave, which means he's been pushed out.
- She spent her garden leave actually doing her garden.
- Garden leave stops workers taking secrets to competitors.
- The football coach was placed on garden leave after the scandal.
- "Garden leave? Sounds lovely," said Gran, missing the point.
- The newspaper said the director had been placed on gardening leave.

### Note

Trap: nothing to do with gardens; it is paid time away from work before leaving a job. It can hide being sacked. Plain meaning: told to stay home on pay until you leave.