The phrase "gives someone his walking papers" means to dismiss or fire someone from their job. The spelling of this phrase can be explained using IPA phonetic transcription: /ˈɡɪvz ˈsʌmwʌn hɪz ˈwɔːkɪŋ ˈpeɪpərz/. It starts with the voiced velar stop /ɡ/ followed by the high front vowel /ɪ/. The word "walking" is spelled with the voiceless velar stop /k/, the high back rounded vowel /ɔː/, and the voiced alveolar fricative /ɪŋ/. Finally, "papers" is spelled with the voiceless bilabial plosive /p/ followed by the high front vowel /eɪ/ and the voiceless alveolar fricative /pərz
The idiomatic expression "gives someone his walking papers" refers to the act of terminating someone's employment or dismissing them from a job. It implies that the person is being handed a written notice or letter, often metaphorically depicted as their "walking papers," which signifies the end of their employment relationship.
This phrase carries a connotation of finality and a sense that there is no room for negotiation or reconciliation. The use of the word "walking" emphasizes the person's immediate departure or dismissal, suggesting that they are expected to leave the premises promptly.
When someone "gives someone his walking papers," it signals a clear decision by the employer that the individual is no longer wanted or needed in their company or organization. The underlying reasons may vary and can include poor performance, misconduct, organizational changes, downsizing, or any other justifiable grounds for termination.
Not only does this phrase indicate the termination of the person's employment, but it also implies a degree of separation or detachment, separating the individual from any affiliations or responsibilities associated with their former position.
Overall, "gives someone his walking papers" can be seen as a direct and uncompromising way of informing an individual that their employment has ended and that they are expected to physically leave the premises promptly. It conveys a sense of finality and serves as an idiom representing the act of terminating someone's employment decisively.