to give the heave-ho
4
8.5
- idiom
- Informal
:
despedir
- After months of poor performance, the manager decided to give the heave-ho to the underperforming employee.
- give the heave-ho to old Marge
- just gave the heave-ho
- gave her the heave-ho weeks ago
Examples
-
And when any Southern Republican congressman (e.g., Trent Lott) says something that is not totally PC, the Grand Old Party gives him the heave-ho.
Blog text (31) -
It's still not exactly like the online version, and there are still no voices, but at least they did add the scene from the movie where a triumphant Felix stands on the roof of the apartment while its tenants give Ralph the ol' heave-ho over the side and watch him go crashing down below.
Blog text (29) -
Harry gave that idea the heave-ho.
Blog text (25) -
Downsized, fired, given the heave-ho.
-
But I promise you, as soon as he's ready, I'll give him the heave-ho.
-
I'll give you the heave-ho, you fucking ball breakers!
-
"I think she's given Graham the heave-ho," Lee remarked.
Fiction book (1990) -
Some of the tea party-backed GOP freshmen who had helped their party secure control two years ago were given the heave-ho Tuesday by voters.
Blog text (30) -
This, according to Feinleib, is why investors are often unfairly cast as the bad guys, blaming the founder for everything and giving him the quick heave-ho when it suits them.
Blog text (17) -
And when any Southern Republican congressman (e.g., Trent Lott) says something that is not totally PC, the Grand Old Party gives him the heave-ho.
Blog text (31)
Synonyms
∞
1.4
To stop holding something or someone so they are free
501
5.1
To end a romantic relationship suddenly and without care
110
2.7
To tell people to leave a meeting or room
43
3.0
Make someone leave a job or group because of a problem
41
3.6
Make something unwanted go away, like an illness, a feeling, or a person following you
12
7.4
To stop someone from working at their job, usually because of bad work or behavior
12
9.4
Suddenly stop seeing or talking to someone
8
6.5
To make someone leave quickly to show they are not wanted
7
8.6
Get rid of someone or something you no longer want
5
4.1
To make people or animals go away by waving your hand
4
7.9
Make someone leave quickly and forcefully
2
7.5
To reject someone quickly and rudely
1
5.2
To make someone leave their job, often as punishment or during job cuts
1
5.0
To force someone to leave a place usually because they cause trouble
To stop employing someone, often suddenly as punishment
To suddenly end someone's job or a relationship, often without warning
To tell someone they must leave their job
To end a relationship or job suddenly and harshly
End someone's job or relationship suddenly and without warning
Fire someone from their job
To tell someone they have lost their job or show the truth about their situation
To end a relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend
To end a relationship or stop someone from working for you
Antonyms
How Abrupt
- Informal
4
8.5
236
3.0
- UK
37
3.5
70
3.3
852
3.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
give + the + heave-ho
The core element 'heave-ho' is an idiomatic, historically nautical noun meaning dismissal or expulsion, and its sense is not a straightforward composition of 'heave' + 'ho' or of 'give' + noun. Even if a learner knows 'give' and 'heave' (to lift/throw), the specific idiomatic meaning 'to dismiss someone' is not predictably derivable, so a B1 learner would not reliably infer it without prior exposure.
Etymology
The phrase give the heave-ho comes from the verb give plus the old shout and action heave-ho, a call people used when they pulled or pushed something together, like sailors pulling a rope or helpers forcing someone out. So to give the heave-ho means 'to dismiss' or 'to throw out' someone or something.