send (one) to the showers

send (one) to the showers

To remove one from a particular situation for poor behavior or performance. Likened to an athlete being removed from a game and sent to the locker room (where one typically showers after the game is over). Coach will send you to the showers if you can't control your temper. I think it's high time the senator sent her press secretary to the showers. His comments to the media have been increasingly inflammatory.

See also: send, shower, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

send someone to the showers

 and send someone to the locker room

Fig. to order a player from the playing field, thus ending the player's participation for the day. The coach had sent four players to the showers before the end of the game. He was angry enough to send them all to the locker room.

See also: send, shower, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

send someone to the showers

AMERICAN

If you send someone to the showers, you stop them playing a game or taking part in an activity because of their bad behaviour or poor performance. Viewers will vote online about what should happen in events they're watching, such as whether certain pitchers should be sent to the showers. Investors should consider various factors before sending a manager to the showers. Note: You can also talk about a trip to the showers with the same meaning. So what did Clemens say to earn his early trip to the showers? Compare with an early bath. Note: In baseball and other sports, players who are sent off cannot return to the field and so can take a shower before the game is finished.

See also: send, shower, someone, to

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

send someone to the showers

fail early on in a race or contest. North American informal

See also: send, shower, someone, to

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017