Synonyms

walking papers

American

plural noun

Informal.

a notification of dismissal.

walking papers British

plural noun

slang notice of dismissal

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

walking papers Idioms

A dismissal, as in They're downsizing, and I got my walking papers last week. This slangy expression, first recorded in 1835, refers to a written notice of dismissal.

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.

While Wray resigned before he could be booted from the position, reports indicate Trump wasn't satisfied with just the top man's walking papers.

From Salon • Jan. 31, 2025

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

Andrew was issued his walking papers and ordered to move his offices out of Buckingham Palace in November after a nuclear interview he gave to the BBC in which he defended his friendship with Epstein.

From Fox News • Jul. 2, 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

Quarrier would give her her walking papers damned quick!...

From The Fighting Chance by Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023