[syn: give the axe, give the bounce, give the gate]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
give the axe
    v 1: terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or
         position; "The boss fired his secretary today"; "The
         company terminated 25% of its workers" [syn: displace,
         fire, give notice, can, dismiss, give the axe,
         send away, sack, force out, give the sack,
         terminate] [ant: employ, engage, hire]
    2: terminate a relationship abruptly; "Mary gave John the axe
       after she saw him with another woman" [syn: give the axe,
       give the bounce, give the gate]