# serve notice

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/serve-notice
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To fire; to terminate one's employment or formal association.

## Examples

- The manager served notice to the lazy employee today.
- After the company lost its biggest client, the director had to serve notice to several members of the sales team.
- The board of directors decided to serve notice to the chief executive, citing a long history of poor financial performance and failed strategic initiatives.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.