give (someone) the pink slip
idiom
chiefly US, informal
: to stop employing (someone) because there is not enough work : lay off
—usually used as be given the pink slip
Thousands of factory workers have been given the pink slip in recent months.
Cite this Entry
“Give (someone) the pink slip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/give%20%28someone%29%20the%20pink%20slip. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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