give someone their cards

present singular third person gives someone their cards · participle present giving someone their cards · past gave someone their cards · participle past given someone their cards

1. IrelandUKidiomaticslangTo dismiss someone from employment; to fire or make redundant.

   HEAD WAITER: It’s filthy! Gaston, find out who washed this up and give them their cards immediately!

   1969 October 19, J Graham Chapman, John Clees, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, 16:38 from the start, in Monty Python’s Flying Circus (How to Recognise Different Types of Tree from Quite a Long Way Away) (1), episode 3 (TV series), spoken by Head Waiter (Michael Palin)

   2 more examples

   Her noble husband, in urgent need of an heir, has dispatched her here with instructions to get herself into working order; should this not come to pass, Monica will be given her cards and told to vacate the premises so that Sir John can make alternative arrangements.

   1984, Anita Brookner, Hotel du Lac, Penguin, published 2016, page 80

   I looked up at him as he turned his back and a few minutes later, the foreman brought me up and reluctantly gave me my cards as the boss, the horrid face of capital, had sacked me for not wearing protective boots.

   2016, R. Pollard, Invisible Pleasures, page 90

   Synonyms: hand someone his cards