炒魷魚

Originally from Cantonese.

The phrase is metaphorical: “to fry a squid” > “fried squids curl up” > “to roll up the bedclothes and leave” > “to be fired”.

Compare the English phrase to get the sack and the Mandarin phrase 捲鋪蓋／卷铺盖 (juǎn pūgai).

炒⫽魷魚 (verb-object)

1. (literally) Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see 炒 (chǎo),‎ 魷魚／鱿鱼 (yóuyú).
2. (figurative, slang) to sack someone; to fire someone

   我被炒魷魚了。／我被炒鱿鱼了。  ―  Wǒ bèi chǎo yóuyú le.  ―  I've been fired.

   炒老闆魷魚／炒老板鱿鱼  ―  chǎo lǎobǎn yóuyú  ―  (humorous) to resign (literally: “to fire the boss”)

   • 他知道諸如打工、做生意、求職、炒魷魚這種種而今聽來十分耳熟的字眼嗎？ [MSC, trad.]
     他知道诸如打工、做生意、求职、炒鱿鱼这种种而今听来十分耳熟的字眼吗？ [MSC, simp.]

     From: 1991, 周佩红, 《一抹心痕》, page 169

     Tā zhīdào zhūrú dǎgōng, zuòshēngyi, qiúzhí, chǎo yóuyú zhè zhǒngzhǒng érjīn tīnglái shífēn ěrshú de zìyǎn ma? [Pinyin]

     Does he know those words very familiar to the ear when he hears them now, such as working on a temporary job, doing business, seeking employment, or getting fired?

   • 考績好，你可能獲得加薪與晉陞；考績不好，你便可能喪失晉陞的機會，甚至還可能被炒魷魚。 [MSC, trad.]
     考绩好，你可能获得加薪与晋升；考绩不好，你便可能丧失晋升的机会，甚至还可能被炒鱿鱼。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 1996, 張慶勳, 《學校組織行為》, page 346

     Kǎojì hǎo, nǐ kěnéng huòdé jiāxīn yǔ jìnshēng; kǎojì bùhǎo, nǐ biàn kěnéng sàngshī jìnshēng de jīhuì, shènzhì hái kěnéng bèi chǎo yóuyú. [Pinyin]

     If your performance assessment is good, you might receive a pay raise and a promotion; if not, you might lose the opportunity of getting promoted and might even be fired.

   • 小乖在不到三個月內，已經換了四個工作，不是被炒魷魚，就是自己不告而別。 [MSC, trad.]
     小乖在不到三个月内，已经换了四个工作，不是被炒鱿鱼，就是自己不告而别。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 2001, 吳靜吉, 《害羞·寂寞·愛》 (Shyness, Loneliness and Love), 2nd edition, page 257

     Xiǎoguāi zài bùdào sān ge yuè nèi, yǐjīng huàn le sì ge gōngzuò, bùshì bèi chǎo yóuyú, jiùshì zìjǐ bùgào'érbié. [Pinyin]

     Within less than three months, Xiaoguai has switched jobs four times; if it was not getting fired, then it was him leaving without notice.

• (to sack someone):