English

Verb

send someone packing

1. (idiomatic) To expel, eject, or dismiss someone; to send away, chase off, or force out.
   • c. 1695, Dr. Robert South, "To Archbishop of Dublin" in Sermons, Vol. III:

     [T]he parliament, to their immortal honour, presently sent him packing.

   • 1849, Charlotte Brontë, Shirley, ch. 32:

     Two ladies called one day, pale and anxious, and begged earnestly, humbly, to be allowed to see Mr. Moore one instant: Mrs. Yorke hardened her heart, and sent them packing.

   • 1904, Gilbert Parker, Michel and Angele, ch. 2:

     "Monsieur, you and yours are not for me. Seek elsewhere." . . .

     "You send me packing!" he blurted out, getting red in the face.

   • 2014 June 14, Anne Marie Garcia, "Cuba ballplayers chase dreams, big bucks, overseas," Businessweek (retrieved 8 July 2014):

     [L]eague authorities sent him packing after ruling he was registered with a fake Dominican passport under circumstances that remain murky.

Synonyms

• hand someone his hat

See also

• send someone to the showers