walking papers
Americanplural noun
plural noun
Etymology
Origin of walking papers
An Americanism dating back to 1815–25
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Before that, Karl Dorrell left the crosstown rivalry with his walking papers in 2007, a day after being trampled by the Trojans for the fourth time in five seasons.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 19, 2021
Thirty-three years of service and this is what you get: your walking papers, with maybe a medal thrown in.
From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2020
Having been handed his walking papers by the White House, Mr. O’Neill rejected the suggestion that he should say publicly that he wanted to return to private life.
From New York Times ● Apr. 18, 2020
We’re a week away from Black Monday, the NFL’s annual flurry of head coaches being given their walking papers.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 23, 2019
"You'll be lucky if that mistake doesn't give you your walking papers," said the foreman.
From Flip's "Islands of Providence" by Bonsall, Elizabeth Fearne
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
