walk the plank

walk the plank
   to be killed by drowning
   Favoured by pirates for the disposal of their captives.
   Some figurative use:
    A 15-year-old daughter broke out upon sexual adventures [on a cruise] and a singer with the ship's band was only saved from walking the plank by some polaroid pictures of her performance in other cabins. (Whicker, 1982)
   To walk the golden gangplank implies departure from employment with a generous payoff:
    Grand Met's finance director has walked the golden gangplank without waiting for consummation of the deal. {Daily Telegraph, 28 June 1997)

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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  • Walk the Plank — may refer to:* Walking the plank, a form of murder or torture practiced by rogue seafarers * Walk the Plank (gameshow), a South African television gameshow * Walk the Plank (theatre company), an English pyrotechnics and theatre company * Walk the …   Wikipedia

  • walk the plank — {v. phr.} 1. To walk off a board extended over the side of a ship and be drowned. * /The pirates captured the ship and forced the crew to walk the plank./ 2. {informal} To resign from a job because someone makes you do it. * /When a new owner… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • walk the plank — {v. phr.} 1. To walk off a board extended over the side of a ship and be drowned. * /The pirates captured the ship and forced the crew to walk the plank./ 2. {informal} To resign from a job because someone makes you do it. * /When a new owner… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • walk the plank — ► walk the plank (formerly) be forced by pirates to walk blindfold along a plank over the side of a ship to one s death in the sea. Main Entry: ↑plank …   English terms dictionary

  • walk the plank — INFORMAL ► to be forced to leave your job because of something bad you have done: »The expenses scandal gave several ministers no option but to walk the plank. Main Entry: ↑walk …   Financial and business terms

  • walk the plank — If someone walks the plank, they are going toward their own destruction or downfall …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • walk the plank — phrasal 1. : to be compelled especially by pirates to walk along a plank sticking out over the side of a ship until one falls into the sea 2. : to vacate an office or position under compulsion * * * walk the plank To suffer the former maritime… …   Useful english dictionary

  • walk the plank — 1) be forced to resign from a job The vice president was forced to walk the plank when the new president joined the company. 2) be forced by pirates to walk a long plank from the ship out over the water to your death The pirates seized the small… …   Idioms and examples

  • walk\ the\ plank — v. phr. 1. To walk off a board extended over the side of a ship and be drowned. The pirates captured the ship and forced the crew to walk the plank. 2. informal To resign from a job because someone makes you do it. When a new owner bought the… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • walk the plank — be forced to jump overboard or be killed, be forced to leave or quit    If you get caught stealing from the company, you ll have to walk the plank …   English idioms

  • walk the plank — to be forced to leave your job. Several Cabinet Ministers have been forced to walk the plank following the latest Government scandal …   New idioms dictionary

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