English

Alternative forms

• give somebody the old heave-ho

Verb

give somebody the heave-ho ‎(third-person singular simple present gives somebody the heave-ho, present participle giving somebody the heave-ho, simple past gave somebody the heave-ho, past participle given somebody the heave-ho)

1. (idiomatic, Britain) to fire, expel or break up with someone.

   I'm looking for work again because they gave me the heave-ho.

   • 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter X:

     I accused her in set terms of giving me the heave-ho in order that she could mercenarily marry a richer man.