give someone their cards

Meaning: (idiomatic,slang,British,Ireland)Todismisssomeone from employment; tofireor makeredundant.1969October 19, J Graham Chapman, John Clees, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, 16:38 from the start, inMonty 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 andgive them their cardsimmediately!1984,Anita Brookner,Hotel du Lac, Penguin, published2016, page80: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 begiven her cardsand told to vacate the premises so that Sir John can make alternative arrangements.2016, R. Pollard,Invisible Pleasures, page90:I looked up at him as he turned his back and a few minutes later, the foreman brought me up and reluctantlygave me my cardsas the boss, the horrid face of capital, had sacked me for not wearing protective boots.

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