give someone the elbow

give (someone) the elbow

1. To spurn, jilt, or reject someone, especially a lover or romantic interest. Jonathan has had a broken heart ever since David gave him the elbow.
2. To summarily dismiss or oust someone from employment; to fire someone. Management promptly gave the new accountant the elbow after his miscalculation cost the company hundreds of thousands of dollars. They'll give me the elbow if they ever find out I came into work drunk yesterday.
See also: elbow, give
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

give someone the elbow

reject or dismiss someone. informal
The image is of nudging someone aside in a rough or contemptuous manner.
See also: elbow, give, someone
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • give (someone) the elbow
  • give somebody the elbow
  • give someone the air
  • give (one) the air
  • get the elbow
  • give (one) the big e
  • give someone the big e
  • give someone the flick
  • give (one) the flick (pass)
  • get the air
References in periodicals archive
Of course, it's unjust to give someone the elbow just because they have hit 40 or 50 or 60 or whatever.
Barbara Argument's column
If it's on the field of play and you give someone the elbow then I'm totally against that, but it wasn't an elbow.'
Football: McIlroy ire as play-acting victim Lomas walks
Whether it's marriage, friendship or employment, is there really a best way to give someone the elbow?
Things can only get Leadbetter