English

Noun

pink slip ‎(plural pink slips)

1. (idiomatic, US) Notice of termination of employment.
   • 2003, Erica Orloff, Kathy Levinson, The 60-Second Commute: A Guide to Your 24/7 Home Office Life, page 139,

     Pink slips are being handed out faster in corporate America than you can say, “Recession? What recession?”

   • 2008, Chioma Isiadinso, The Best Business Schools' Admissions Secrets, page 4,

     From 2002 to 2004, many individuals received pink slips as a result of a slow economy.

   • 2008, Warren Richard Plunkett, Raymond F. Attner, Gemmy S. Allen, Management: Meeting and Exceeding Customer Expectations, Thomson, 9th Edition, page 400,

     Oracle chose a weekend in which to notify PeopleSoft employees of their termination: the company sent them pink slips via express mail.

2. (US) The title for an automobile.
   • 1997, Jacqueline Diamond, Million-Dollar Mommy, Harlequin, unnumbered page,

     But when she visited the bank, all she found inside were the pink slip to her car, a passport she′d acquired two years ago before a vacation trip to Australia and a few other documents.

3. (Australia, New South Wales) An automobile roadworthiness inspection certificate.
   • 2001 March 21, Sharon, “Obtaining Pink Slip”, in aus.motorcycles, Usenet:

     My car mechanic does the pink slip for my bike - he doesn't know anything about them but does know that I keep it in tip top condition.

   • 2002 March 3, Terry, “Pink slip inspection?”, in aus.legal, Usenet:

     If the car is still currently registered, then you can drive it to anyone, anywhere to get the pink slip. If its just out of registration ( within 3 months of the rego expiring) then you take it to the nearest one ( or so they say)

   • 2003, Margo Daly, Anne Dehne, Rough Guide to Australia, 6th Edition, page 194,

     Demand to see the pink slip (certificate of roadworthiness), as it proves the car is safe.

Synonyms

• (employment termination notice): P45 (United Kingdom, Ireland)
• (automobile title):
• (automobile roadworthiness inspection certificate):

Related terms

• green slip

Translations