give someone their cardsとは 意味・読み方・使い方

動詞

give someone their cards (third-person singular simple present gives someone their cards, present participle giving someone their cards, simple past gave someone their cards, past participle given someone their cards)

1. (slang, idiomatic, British, Ireland) To dismiss someone from employment; to fire or make redundant.

   Synonym: hand someone his cards

   • 1969 October 19, J Graham Chapman, John Clees, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, 16:38 from the start, in Monty Python’s Flying Circus (How to Recognise Different Types of Tree from Quite a Long Way Away) (1), episode 3 (TV series), spoken by Head Waiter (Michael Palin):

     HEAD WAITER: It’s filthy! Gaston, find out who washed this up and give them their cards immediately!

   • 1984, Anita Brookner, Hotel du Lac, Penguin, published 2016, page 80:

     Her noble husband, in urgent need of an heir, has dispatched her here with instructions to get herself into working order; should this not come to pass, Monica will be given her cards and told to vacate the premises so that Sir John can make alternative arrangements.

   • 2016, R. Pollard, Invisible Pleasures, page 90:

     I looked up at him as he turned his back and a few minutes later, the foreman brought me up and reluctantly gave me my cards as the boss, the horrid face of capital, had sacked me for not wearing protective boots.