炒鱿鱼 (chǎo yóu yú) — (literally) to stir-fry squid; (colloquial) to fire someone, to sack

Definition

A colloquial idiom for 'firing someone,' from the image of a rolled-up squid unrolling in the pan — like a worker leaving with their belongings. Only used for dismissing employees; not for general firing like 解雇.

verb
(literally) to stir-fry squid(colloquial) to fire someoneto sack

Examples

  • 炒鱿鱼
    Jīn tiān wǎn fàn wǒ dǎ suàn chǎo yóu yú.
    I plan to stir-fry squid for dinner tonight.
  • 炒鱿鱼
    Tā yīn wèi chí dào bèi chǎo yóu yú le.
    He was fired because of being late.
  • Lǎo bǎn chǎo le tā de yóu yú.
    The boss fired him.

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