gate

a creaking gate hangs longest

proverb Sick people often outlive healthy people. Oh, I wouldn't worry about Uncle Stu—he's been sick for years, and a creaking gate hangs longest.
See also: creak, gate, hang, long

be given the gate

To be dismissed or spurned. I'm trying to sell these vacuums door to door, and I've been given the gate left and right!
See also: gate, given

crash the gate

To attend an event, such as a concert, sports match, or party, without being invited or paying to get in. That's way too much money to see them in concert, let's just crash the gate and see them on the sly! There's always a few who crash the gate at my party and end up causing trouble.
See also: crash, gate

gatecrasher

One who attends an event, such as a concert, sports match, or party, without being invited or paying to get in. I don't mind gatecrashers coming to my parties, so long as they behave themselves. Due to the popularity of the show—and the limited amount of tickets—extra security was hired to keep any gatecrashers out of the concert.

get the gate

To be dismissed or spurned. I'm trying to sell these vacuums door to door, and I'm getting the gate left and right!
See also: gate, get

give (someone) the gate

1. To be fired from one's job. Primarily heard in UK. After messing up that account, I'm terrified that my boss is going to give me the gate.
2. To have a romantic relationship ended by one's partner. Primarily heard in UK. Susan is just devastated—Kelly gave her the gate a few days ago.
See also: gate, give

like a bull at a gate

Very quickly and rashly; hastily, without careful thinking or planning. I only have a few hours before this essay is due, so I'm going at it like a bull at a gate. With only a few seconds left in the match, he started charging at his opponent like a bull at a gate out of desperation.
See also: bull, gate, like

out (of) the (starting) gate

At or from the very starting position. Out the gate, the company's latest video game console has proven wildly popular. We're aiming to be the first one out of the gate with mixed-reality technology. I was a bit slow out of the starting gate to find what I wanted to study in college, but by my second year I felt really confident in my degree.
See also: gate, out

the gate

A rejection, dismissal, or refusal. Usually used after "get" or "give." I got the gate from the firm after I lost the Jefferson account. I thought our first few dates went really well, but she gave me the gate last night out of nowhere.
See also: gate

the pearly gates

The gates of heaven. The phrase originates from a passage about heaven in the book of Revelation. Sometimes capitalized. When I get to the pearly gates, I want Saint Peter to say, "Now the party can begin!"
See also: gate, pearly
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

creaking door hangs longest

 and creaking gate hangs longest
Prov. Sickly people often live longer than healthy ones. Jill: I'm worried that my grandmother may not live much longer. She's been sick for so many years. Jane: Well, if it's any comfort, I've heard that a creaking door hangs longest.
See also: creak, door, hang, long

get the gate

Inf. to be sent away; to be rejected. I thought he liked me, but I got the gate. I was afraid I'd get the gate, and I was right.
See also: gate, get

give someone the gate

Sl. to get rid of someone. The chick was a pest, so I gave her the gate. He threatened to give me the gate, so I left.
See also: gate, give
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

crash the gate

Gain admittance, as to a party or concert, without being invited or without paying. For example, The concert was outdoors, but heavy security prevented anyone from crashing the gate. This term originally applied to persons getting through the gate at sports events without buying tickets. By the 1920s it was extended to being an uninvited guest at other gatherings and had given rise to the noun gatecrasher for one who did so. [Early 1900s]
See also: crash, gate

give someone the air

Also, give someone the brush off or the gate or the old heave-ho . Break off relations with someone, oust someone, snub or jilt someone, especially a lover. For example, John was really upset when Mary gave him the air, or His old friends gave him the brush off, or Mary cried and cried when he gave her the gate, or The company gave him the old heave-ho after only a month. In the first expression, which dates from about 1920, giving air presumably alludes to being blown out. The second, from the first half of the 1900s, alludes to brushing away dust or lint. The third, from about 1900, uses gate in the sense of "an exit." The fourth alludes to the act of heaving a person out, and is sometimes used to mean "to fire someone from a job" (see get the ax). All these are colloquialisms, and all have variations using get, get the air (etc.), meaning "to be snubbed or told to leave," as in After he got the brush off, he didn't know what to do.
See also: air, give, someone
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

get the gate

AMERICAN
If someone gets the gate, they are sent away or told that they are not wanted. He was replaced for a time by the respected Emanuel Steward, who also eventually got the gate. Note: You can also say that someone is given the gate. Both competitors were given the gate for breaking the rules.
See also: gate, get
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

like a bull at a gate

hastily and without thought.
See also: bull, gate, like

get (or be given) the gate

be dismissed from a job. North American informal
See also: gate, get
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

the ˌPearly ˈGates

(humorous) the gates of heaven: What’s going to happen when I get to those Pearly Gates? Have I lead a good life?
See also: Gate, pearly
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

the gate

n. a forced exit; sending (someone) away. (see also give someone the gate.) I could see in his eyes that it was the gate for me.
See also: gate

give someone the gate

tv. to get rid of someone. The chick was a pest, so I gave her the gate.
See also: gate, give, someone
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

get the gate

Slang
To be dismissed or rejected.
See also: gate, get

give (someone) the gate

Slang
1. To discharge from a job.
2. To reject or jilt.
See also: gate, give
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • a creaking gate hangs longest
  • creak
  • creaking door hangs longest
  • a creaking door hangs longest
  • take sick
  • get sick
  • sick as a dog, to be
  • you make me sick
  • (as) sick as a dog
  • sick as a dog
References in classic literature
And so they moved down the hillside toward the gates of Manator--Tara, Princess of Helium, and Ghek, the kaldane of Bantoom--and surrounding them rode the savage, painted warriors of U-Dor, dwar of the 8th Utan of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator.
The Chessmen of Mars
Even such world-old cities as ancient Aaanthor were as yet undreamed of when the races lived that built such gates as these.
"O Tario, most glorious Jeddak," replied Jav, "these be strangers who came with the hordes of Torquas to our gates, saying that they were prisoners of the green men.
Thuvia Maid of Mars
When all was said, Burning Daylight had a mighty connotation--one to touch any woman's imagination, as it touched hers, the gate between them, listening to the wistful and impassioned simplicity of his speech.
Burning Daylight
In the few seconds that had been required for the consummation of these rapidly ensuing events, Otobu had dragged Bertha Kircher to the gate which he had unbarred and thrown open, and with the vanquishing of the last of the active guardsmen, the party passed out of the maniac city of Xuja into the outer darkness beyond.
Tarzan the Untamed
The gates and shops were all closed, only here and there round the taverns solitary shouts or drunken songs could be heard.
War and Peace
Close upon their heels came the soldiers--so close, that Arthur had no time to close the gate again or raise the bridge.
Robin Hood
De Vac turned their steps toward the little postern gate, but when he would have passed through with the tiny Prince the latter rebelled.
The Outlaw of Torn
In another moment the gate would be opened and the head of the column pass out upon the death-bordered highway.
Warlord of Mars
"Because I might have opened the gate to Mynheers de Witt; whereas, finding the gate locked, they were obliged to retrace their steps."
The Black Tulip
His back was turned towards Peter, and beyond him was the gate!
Original Peter Rabbit Books
Thrice did there peal peals at the gate like thunders, thrice did the vaults resound and howl again: then did I go to the gate.
Thus Spake Zarathustra
The Army of Glinda the Good looked very grand and imposing when it assembled at daybreak before the palace gates. The uniforms of the girl soldiers were pretty and of gay colors, and their silver-tipped spears were bright and glistening, the long shafts being inlaid with mother-of-pearl.
The Marvelous Land of Oz
He was on his way now to see Gates. Gates was a comparatively recent addition to his list of friends, a New York newspaperman who had come to England a few months before to act as his paper's London correspondent.
Uneasy Money
Hither he drove and found the gates with their doors opened wide, and the great bar down--for the gatemen kept them open so as to let those of their comrades enter who might be flying towards the ships.
Iliad