The phrase "gives her walking papers" may seem straightforward in its meaning, but its spelling can be a bit confusing. The word "walking" is pronounced with the /w/ sound at the beginning, while "papers" uses the /p/ sound. The term "gives" is also notable for its hard /g/ sound. In IPA phonetic transcription, the phrase could be written as /ɡɪvz hɜr ˈwɔkɪŋ ˈpeɪpərz/, with each sound represented by a specific symbol. Regardless of its complexity, this expression remains commonly used to refer to someone being dismissed from their job or position.
The phrase "gives her walking papers" is an idiomatic expression that typically refers to the action of terminating someone from their job or dismissing them from a position, oftentimes due to poor performance, misconduct, or redundancy. This expression is commonly used in informal or colloquial contexts, especially in North American English.
When somebody gives her walking papers, it means that she has been handed a notice or letter stating her employment is being terminated or that her services are no longer required. This notice symbolizes the end of her employment relationship with an organization or company and indicates that she must leave her job within a specified period of time.
The phrase itself likely originated from the concept of an employee being given a written directive, often in the form of a letter, to leave their current place of work. Consequently, the term walking papers implies that the affected individual needs to "walk away" from their current employment situation.
This expression carries with it a connotation of finality and a lack of opportunity for reconciliation or improvement. It denotes a definite and irreversible separation between the employee and the employer, effectively ending their working relationship.