Dictionary

show someone the door en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see show, someone, the, door.
2. (idiomatic) To escort someone to the exit of the premises; to expel someone from a room, gathering, etc.
   • "[N]o man shall laugh at me now that I'm down. Show him the door, Dig." 1913, Jeffrey Farnol, chapter 29, in The Amateur Gentleman:
3. (broadly, especially, idiomatic, of a person) To dismiss, fire, or reject; to exclude someone who was formerly included.
   • In Maryland, Rep. Connie Morella, a skillful, conscientious politician, was ousted. . . . The always-charming Morella . . . provided great constituent service. . . . Still, voters showed her the door. 2008 November 9, Bruce DePuyt, “Sweeping the Red Out of Our Region”, in Washington Post, retrieved 24 Aug 2009, page B08:
   • The medical profession, by its drift toward specialization, is handing the family doctor his hat and showing him the door. 1939 April 3, “Here's Your Hat!”, in Time:

Forms

Translations (11)

ru выгоня́ть (to escort someone to the exit of the premises; to expel someone from a room, gathering) · fi näyttää ovea (to escort someone to the exit of the premises; to expel someone from a room, gathering) · pl pokazać drzwi (to escort someone to the exit of the premises; to expel someone from a room, gathering) · pl wyprosić (to escort someone to the exit of the premises; to expel someone from a room, gathering) · fi näyttää ovea (to dismiss, fire, or reject; to exclude someone who was formerly included) · ru указа́ть на дверь (to escort someone to the exit of the premises; to expel someone from a room, gathering) · fi heittää ulos (to escort someone to the exit of the premises; to expel someone from a room, gathering) · hu ajtót mutat (to escort someone to the exit of the premises; to expel someone from a room, gathering) · pl wypraszać (to escort someone to the exit of the premises; to expel someone from a room, gathering) · pl pokazać drzwi (to dismiss, fire, or reject; to exclude someone who was formerly included) · ru вы́гнать (to escort someone to the exit of the premises; to expel someone from a room, gathering)