show someone the door
Save This Word!
Order someone to leave, as in I never should have listened to him; I should have shown him the door at once. This expression, first recorded in 1778, is not the same as show someone to the door (see under show someone out).
QUIZ
TAKE JOY IN ACING THIS QUIZ ON “PRIDE” SYNONYMS
Hold your head up high as you embark on this quiz that explores some of the synonyms and meanings of “pride.”
Question 1 of 7
What does "dignity" mean?
Words nearby show someone the door
showroom, showrunner, show signs of, show someone a good time, show someone out, show someone the door, show someone the ropes, show-stopper, show the way, show the white feather, show-through
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.