这个短语的字面解释是“拿到某人的走路证明”，这是什么意思呢？请看对话：

    A: When will you go back to work?

    B: Not in the near future. I’m making plans to travel to Brazil.

    A: Lucky you! You have a really long vacation.

    B: In fact, my company was downsizing and I got my walking papers last week.

    Note: Walking papers means a dismissal. This slangy expression, first recorded in 1835, refers to a written notice of dismissal. People also use it to mean “being kicked out of a relationship.” For example: Pete had a terrible fight with Mary over the weekend and now he’s got his walking papers.