walking the plank

Verb

walk the plank (third-person singular simple present walks the plank, present participle walking the plank, simple past and past participle walked the plank)

1. (also, figuratively, historical) On an early naval vessel or pirate ship: to be forced to walk off the end of a gangplank (a plank of wood extending outwards from the side of the vessel) and plunge into the ocean and drown, used as a method of killing.
   • Walking the Plank. A mode of deſtroying devoted perſons or officers in a mutiny on ſhip-board, by blindfolding them, and obliging them to walk on a plank laid over the ſhip's ſide; by this means, as the mutineers ſuppoſe, avoiding the penalty of murder.[1788, [Francis Grose], “Walking the Plank”, in A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 2nd edition, London: […] S[amuel] Hooper, […], →OCLC

   Synonyms:

   walk the gangplank

2. (idiomatic) To be forced to resign from a position in an organization.
   • After he was caught selling company secrets, it’s not surprising they made him walk the plank.

   Synonyms:

   walk the gangplank