The phrase "giving someone his or walking papers" means dismissing or firing someone from their job. The spelling of the word "walking papers" corresponds to its pronunciation: [ˈwɔːkɪŋ ˈpeɪpəz]. The "w" at the beginning is pronounced like a "w" in "water." The "a" in "walking" is pronounced like the "a" in "father." The stress is on the first syllable. The "o" in "papers" is pronounced like the "o" in "go," and the stress is on the second syllable.
To "give someone their walking papers" is an idiomatic expression used to convey the act of terminating or dismissing an individual from their employment or position. This phrase primarily refers to the act of providing an employee with an official notice of termination. It implies that the person no longer has a place within the organization and is expected to leave.
This expression is often used in a context where an employer has decided to end someone's employment abruptly or without warning, possibly due to various reasons such as poor performance, misconduct, redundancy, or other organizational changes. Giving someone their walking papers indicates that the employer wants the person to leave as soon as possible and not remain in the workplace following their notice of termination.
The term "walking papers" in this phrase is believed to have originated from a historical practice of giving physical documentation to employees when they were dismissed, which they would typically carry with them as proof when seeking new employment. However, in contemporary usage, it is mostly used figuratively to signify the end of an individual's professional affiliation and suggest that they leave without delay.
Overall, "giving someone their walking papers" signifies the act of formally and usually abruptly terminating someone's employment, signaling their departure from the organization.