marching orders, get one's

get (one's) marching orders

1. To receive a command or direction to advance, progress, or move on. We are waiting to get our marching orders from the project leader before we begin development of the next iteration of the software. Bill had been living in his parents' house for nearly a year without working when he finally got his marching orders to move out.2. To receive a notice of dismissal from one's employment. After messing up that account, I'm terrified that I'm going to get my marching orders any day now. Daniel got his marching orders for arriving to work drunk.See also: get, marche, order

marching orders, get one's

Be ordered to move on or proceed; also, be dismissed from a job. For example, The sales force got their marching orders yesterday, so now they'll be on the road with the new product , or It's too bad about Jack-the boss gave him his marching orders Friday. This expression originally alluded to a military command. [Colloquial; late 1700s] See also: get, marche