show someone the door

show someone the door

English

Alternative forms

• show someone to the door (dated)

Verb

show someone the door

1. (idiomatic) To escort someone to the exit of the premises; to expel someone from a room, gathering, etc.
   • 1913, Jeffrey Farnol, The Amateur Gentleman, ch. 29:

     "[N]o man shall laugh at me now that I'm down. Show him the door, Dig."

2. (idiomatic, by extension, especially of a person) To dismiss, fire, or reject; to exclude someone who was formerly included.
   • 1939, "Here's Your Hat!," Time, 3 April:

     The medical profession, by its drift toward specialization, is handing the family doctor his hat and showing him the door.

   • 2008, Bruce DePuyt, "Sweeping the Red Out of Our Region," Washington Post, 9 Nov., p. B08 (retrieved 24 Aug. 2009):

     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.

Translations

to escort someone to the exit of the premises; to expel someone from a room, gathering

Hungarian: ajtót mutat

to dismiss, fire, or reject; to exclude someone who was formerly included