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Glite Dictionary
to hand someone their cards

to hand someone their cards

9.3
To tell someone they have lost their job or show the truth about their situation
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : darle la patada a alguien
  • When the truth came out, the board decided it was time to hand the CEO his cards.

Examples

  • After years of loyal service, the company finally handed him his cards without much explanation.

  • She realized her boss was about to hand her her cards after the final meeting.

  • Don't hand him his cards just yet!

  • Don't hand Sarah her cards without consulting me first!

  • After years of loyal service, the company finally handed him his cards after the investigation revealed his misconduct.

  • She knew it was time for a career change when her boss was ready to hand her her cards during their meeting.

  • When the scandal broke, the board felt compelled to hand the CEO his cards and address the situation openly.

Synonyms

to dismiss
vsto hand someone their cards
70 3.3

To remove someone from their job

can also mean revealing someone's intentions or truth instead of removal
to show the door
vsto hand someone their cards
  • Informal
6 6.7

Tell someone to leave a place firmly

also can mean to reveal the truth about someone's intentions instead of ejection
to show someone the door
vsto hand someone their cards
  • Informal
5 6.4

Tell someone to leave a place in a rude or angry way

can also mean to disclose someone's true situation rather than only ejecting
to give the heave-ho
vsto hand someone their cards
  • Informal
4 8.5

To tell someone to leave their job or to stop using something

can also mean to expose someone's situation rather than just ejecting them
to put cards on the table
vsto hand someone their cards
3 4.6

To be completely open and honest about your plans or feelings

can also mean dismissing someone or exposing them rather than simple openness
to hand someone their hat
vsto hand someone their cards
  • Informal
8.7

Fire someone from their job

also can mean to reveal the truth about someone's situation or intentions
to give the axe
vsto hand someone their cards
  • UK
7.4

To suddenly end someone's job or a relationship, often without warning

can also mean to reveal truth about intentions rather than only firing
to sack someone
vsto hand someone their cards
  • UK
4.8

To stop employing someone, often suddenly as punishment

can also mean to show someone's real situation rather than only removal
to give the gate
vsto hand someone their cards
  • UK
9.9

To end a relationship or job suddenly and harshly

can also mean to reveal real intentions rather than only terminate
to give the elbow
vsto hand someone their cards
  • UK
9.0

To end a relationship or stop someone from working for you

can also mean to show someone's real intentions rather than only reject them
to tip one's hand
vsto hand someone their cards
  • Informal
7.9

To show your plans or ideas too early to others

can also mean to remove someone from a role rather than an accidental reveal

Antonyms

to hire
∞ 1.4

To give someone a job and pay them for their work

Surface Forms

hand someone their cards infinitive
handed someone their cards past
handed someone their cards past participle
handing someone their cards present participle
hands someone their cards third person singular

Morphology

hand + someone + their + cards

There is a partial metaphorical link: 'hand' = give and 'cards' can represent information or a 'hand' (as in 'show your cards'), so the sense 'reveal the truth' is somewhat inferable. However the extended meaning 'dismiss someone' is not clearly derivable from the constituents and the specific idiomatic uses are unpredictable for a B1 learner without prior exposure.

Etymology

The idiom hand someone their cards may come from old card games: when a player lost, the winner would hand them their cards or lay them out, showing they had no chance. That's why the phrase now means 'to dismiss someone' or 'to reveal the truth about their situation'.