give (one) the big e

give (one) the big e

To summarily spurn, dismiss, or reject one. The phrase is a shortening of "give (one) the big elbow," meaning the same. Jonathan has had a broken heart ever since Pat gave him the big e. Management promptly gave the new accountant the big e after his miscalculation cost the company hundreds of thousands of dollars. They'll give me the big e if they ever find out I wasn't sick on those days I called out.

See also: big, give

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

give someone the big e

reject someone, typically in an insensitive or dismissive way. British informal

The e in the phrase is from elbow : give someone the big elbow has the same meaning.

See also: big, give, someone

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017