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.

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

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

Now-former Baltimore Raven Jordan Lasley got his walking papers Wednesday after a crazy week that included fighting with teammates, scoring a touchdown and inexplicably throwing a football into a pond.

From Fox News • Aug. 2, 2019

Earlier in the week, Manson posted a statement to Twitter that suggested the erstwhile Twiggy had been given his walking papers.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 26, 2017

"I suppose we'll shut down and give Knapp his walking papers," he answered at last.

From The Westerners by White, Stewart Edward

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