give (one) (one's) walking papers
give (one) (one's) walking papers
To dismiss one from employment; to order one to leave or move on from a place. After messing up that account, I'm terrified that my boss is going to give me my walking papers. Bill had been living in his parents' house for nearly a year without working when they finally gave him his walking papers out of there.
See also: give, paper, walking
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
give someone their walking papers
If you give someone their walking papers, you tell them to leave. Barker was called in and given his walking papers during a short meeting yesterday. After returning home to Toronto for Thanksgiving, he gave his high-school girlfriend her walking papers. Note: You can also say that someone gets their walking papers. It was Vogel's turn to get his walking papers from the board of directors. Note: The usual British expression is give someone their marching orders. Note: This comes from the instructions given to infantry soldiers (= soldiers who march on foot) about the length and destination of a march.
See also: give, paper, someone, walking
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
give somebody their ˈwalking papers
,get your ˈwalking papers
(American English, informal) dismiss somebody from their job; be dismissed: The coach has been given his walking papers after the team lost again on Saturday.See also: give, paper, somebody, walking
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- give (one) (one's) head
- give head
- give somebody their head
- give someone their head
- drive (one) out of office
- force (one) out of office
- force out of office
- 1FTR
- cooking for one
- as one door closes, another (one) opens