hired hand
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A person who is employed to perform physical labor, typically on a farm or ranch, for wages. This term specifically refers to a worker who is paid by another person (the employer) for their manual or skilled labor services.
Usage
The term "hired hand" is used to refer to a paid laborer, especially in agricultural or rural settings. It emphasizes the employment-for-wages relationship and the manual nature of the work.
Examples
- The farmer needed an extra hired hand to help with the harvest.
- For many years, he worked as a hired hand on various cattle ranches.
- The hired hand was responsible for feeding the livestock and maintaining the fences.
Advanced Usage
- The term can sometimes carry a connotation of temporary or seasonal work, as opposed to a permanent, vested employee. It can also imply a degree of skill specific to farm or ranch work.
- While traditionally masculine, the term can apply to any gender performing the role.
Variants and Related Words
- Hired man: A less common, synonymous term.
- Hand: A shorter, more informal term for a hired laborer, especially in the context of a ranch ("ranch hand") or ship ("deck hand").
- Hired help: A broader term that can refer to any paid domestic or labor assistance.
Synonyms
- Farmhand
- Laborer
- Ranch hand
- Field hand
- Employee
- Worker
Antonyms
- Employer
- Boss
- Owner
- Volunteer
Related Idioms and Phrases
- To hire a hand: To employ a laborer.
- Example: We'll need to hire a hand for the summer months.
- An extra pair of hands: A phrase meaning additional help or workers.
- Example: During the busy season, we could use an extra pair of hands.
Noun
- a hired laborer on a farm or ranch
- the hired hand fixed the railing
- a ranch hand