for hire
Available for employment. I hear that Sasha's old tutor is available for hire—I think she would make a great addition to our teaching staff. He put his military training to good use as a private detective for hire, tracking down errant spouses and runaway debtors. Does anyone know of a nanny for hire? We'll need some help with the kids over the summer.
hire (someone) away
To persuade someone to quit their current job and work for one instead. Stop hiring all of my best employees away! Pursuant to our contract, we can sue if he hires anyone away from our company. Because we don't have any full-time positions open, competitors have been able to hire our best interns away.
hire (someone) away from (someone or something)
To persuade someone to quit their current job and work for one instead. Stop hiring all of my best employees away from me! Pursuant to our contract, we can sue if he hires anyone away from our company. Competitors have been able to hire our best interns away from us because we don't have any full-time positions open.
hire and fire
Employ and release from employment, usually in rapid succession. The department has started looking into the practices of businesses that hire and fire staff quickly enough that they never have to pay employment benefits. Your complaints have been duly noted, but the board of directors will have the final authority to hire and fire. After going through the months-long process of filling a job, it kills me to have to hire and fire someone who just isn't the right fit.
hire out
1. To allow someone to use, employ, or access someone or something, in exchange for money. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "hire" and "out." My niece watches my kids all the time, so I've started hiring her out as a babysitter to other moms in the neighborhood. If we owned a second house, we could hire it out when we're not there. A: "You hire out your car now?" B: "What? I need the money!"
2. To seek employment. Now that you have your degree, you can hire out as an accountant. You can hire out as a teacher, sure, but do you have all of the certifications you need for some of these fancy schools you're applying to? She can hire out as a babysitter, but she's not old enough to apply for a true "job."
hired girl
A girl or woman is hired specifically to work on or help with something. Although often associated with farm work, the phrase can be used more broadly. With a few more hired girls, I think we could get this job done by the end of the week. I need a hired girl to help with the cows. Don't worry, the hired girl is starting on Monday, and she'll help you sort through all these files.
hired gun
1. A person who is hired to kill someone. Don't worry about that snitch. We've sent a couple of hired guns around to his house, so he won't be a problem for us much longer. The boss will have a hired gun take care of the informant, don't worry. The woman was arrested when her hired gun turned out to be an undercover police officer.
2. A person employed to provide armed protection for or fight on behalf of someone. Things have become so violent in the town that even the mayor has taken on some hired guns to keep him safe. The rebels brought in a few hired guns to help bolster their meager attack. She's so famous now that she can't go anywhere without a hired gun keeping an eye on her.
3. A person who is especially skilled at attaining power for others, such as a lobbyist or politician. The corporation has sent their best hired gun to convince the senator to vote against the environmental regulation bill. You've never dealt with that guy before? Well, you will soon then—he's a hired gun for the fracking industry. Because this vote is so consequential for their field, I fully expect them to send hired guns around Washington.
4. A person hired to resolve difficult or complex problems or disputes, especially in business or law. Because of the intricacy of the legislation, the company brought in a hired gun to ensure the merger deal didn't hit any legal snags. Don't worry, I have a hired gun working on the acquisition, so we shouldn't have any issues moving forward. I know we're going to pay a lot for a hired gun, but it will be money well spent since you and I have such little experience with contracts.
hired hand
One who is hired specifically to work on or help with something. Although often associated with farm work, the phrase can be used more broadly. With a few more hired hands, I think we could get this job done by the end of the week. I need a hired hand to help with the cows. My mistake was getting emotionally attached to the family, when they all just saw me as a hired hand.
hired man
A man who is hired specifically to work on or help with something. Although often associated with farm work, the phrase can be used more broadly. With a few more hired men, I think we could get this job done by the end of the week. I need a hired man to help with the cows. Don't worry, the hired man is starting on Monday, and he'll help you sort through all these files.
hired muscle
One or more persons who have been paid to intimidate someone else (typically into doing something that will benefit the hired muscle's "boss"). I can't believe Jimmy sent some hired muscle after me—I was always going to pay him back, sheesh! Their so-called hired muscle is just one guy, and I'm bigger than him. Don't worry, the boss will have his hired muscle pay the informant a visit and nudge him in the right direction.
last hired, first fired
The employees hired most recently will typically be the first to be laid off. I heard that the company is downsizing its staff after Christmas. I was only hired a year ago, so I'm worried it will be a "last hired, first fired" situation.
last one hired, first one fired
The employees hired most recently will the first to be laid off. I heard that the company is downsizing its staff after Christmas. I was only hired a year ago, so I'm worried it will be a "last one hired, first one fired" situation.
not for hire
1. Not available to be used by someone else in exchange for money. Sorry, but the digital assets I've created are not for hire. Our military is not and never will be for hire by a foreign power.
2. Of a taxi, not available to pick up new customers. A: "Excuse me, could you take us to the airport, please?" B: "Sorry, I'm not for hire. Just waiting to pick up a customer."
on hire
Available for employment. I hear that Sasha's old tutor is available on hire—I think she would make a great addition to our teaching staff.
ply for hire
To seek out or try to engage new customers. Said especially of taxi services. Primarily heard in UK. The city council has introduced new measures to crack down on the number of taxis allowed to stop outside of pubs and theatres plying for hire.
the laborer is worthy of his hire
proverb Workers should or deserve to be paid. The phrase comes from the Bible. You did a fine job in the stables, Edgar. I have some money for you, as the laborer is worthy of his hire.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
hired gun
1. A person, especially a professional killer, employed to kill someone, as in They thought the murder had been done by a hired gun. The noun gun has been slang for a professional criminal since the mid-1800s.
2. A person with special knowledge or expertise who is employed to resolve a complex problem. For example, The legal team was looking for a hired gun to handle the antitrust angle of the case. [Slang; 1960s]
hired hand
Also, hired man or girl . A person engaged to assist with farm or domestic chores, as in We need extra hired hands during the harvest, or She was looking for a hired girl to do the laundry. This use of hired dates from the 1200s and referred to someone employed for wages as opposed to a slave or serf. The use of girl now may be offensive.
hire out
Obtain work; also, grant the services or temporary use of for a fee, as in He hired out as a cook, or They hired out the cottage for the summer. [Second half of 1700s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.