Get/be given the chop Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Job Loss Context Use when talking about someone losing their job, often unexpectedly or due to downsizing. When the new management took over, Mike got the chop. Pro Tip 2/3Informal Tone It's colloquial and not suitable for formal situations like official letters. In casual conversation, she said she'd been given the chop. Pro Tip 3/3Negative Feeling Implies a sense of unfairness or suddenness, often eliciting sympathy. I felt sorry to hear that he got the chop.