give the elbow

verb

To fire (an employee); to end a relationship with someone; to reject someone.

“When are you finally going to give your boyfriend the elbow?”

Similar
elbow outasideout of the wayfiresack
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Meanings

verbgive the elbow (third-person singular simple present gives the elbow, present participle giving the elbow, simple past gave the elbow, past participle given the elbow)

present singular third person gives the elbow · participle present giving the elbow · past gave the elbow · participle past given the elbow

  1. UKslangtransitiveTo fire (an employee); to end a relationship with someone; to reject someone.

    When are you finally going to give your boyfriend the elbow?

    1 more example

    They said I couldn't do the job so they gave me the elbow. So, now I'm looking for work again.

    Synonyms: elbow out, aside, out of the way, fire, sack

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo fire (an employee); to end a relationship with someone; to reject someone.

Similar
elbow outasideout of the wayfiresack
Also see
axediscarddischargedownsizefiregive someone the heave-holay offlet gopink slipretrenchsack

Translations

Finnish antaa potkut
  • antaa potkutto fire
French virer, dégager
  • virerto fire
  • dégagerto fire
  • larguerto fire
Cite this entry
APA

give the elbow. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20the%20elbow

MLA

“give the elbow.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20the%20elbow. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “give the elbow,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20the%20elbow.

Source: give the elbow on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.