send someone to the showers

Verb

send someone to the showers (third-person singular simple present sends someone to the showers, present participle sending someone to the showers, simple past and past participle sent someone to the showers)

1. (idiomatic) To remove a player from a particular team competition before the conclusion of the event, especially because that player's contribution on this occasion has been below his or her expected level of performance.
   • [H]e was able to pitch out of trouble until the eighth, when a single by LF Randy Winn and double by 2B Bret Boone sent him to the showers.2004 September 29, “Mariners game at a glance”, in Seattle Post-Intelligencer, retrieved 08 Jul 2014
   • The umpires’ ruling precipitated a wild protest […]and three straight run-scoring hits off Pelfrey that sent him to the showers after a six-run inning.2010 July 5, Mark Viera, “Reds 8, Mets 6: Pelfrey Comes Undone After a Reversed Call”, in New York Times, retrieved 08 Jul 2014
2. (broadly, idiomatic) To remove or expel someone from a job, position, or activity, especially because of poor behavior or performance.
   • The Federal Trade Commission in recent years has seldom struck out. […]But last fortnight the FTC was caught way off base, sent red-faced to the showers.1941 February 3, “Government: FTC Boner”, in Time, retrieved 08 Jul 2014
   • Lucky John Sununu. […]Given the thin bench of replacements, no wonder Bush doesn't want to send him to the showers.1991 July 7, Newsweek Staff, “Chief Of Staff Edition”, in Newsweek, retrieved 08 Jul 2014