sign on
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (phrasal verb): 1. To formally agree to a contract or to begin employment: To commit oneself to a job, organization, or course of action by signing a contract or official document. 2. To register or enlist, especially for unemployment benefits or a service: To officially record oneself as available for something, such as government support or a membership.
Usage
- This phrasal verb is typically used in professional, employment, or administrative contexts. It often implies a formal commitment through a signature.
- It can be used both transitively (e.g., ) and intransitively (e.g., ).
Examples
- Transitive use:
- The tech startup signed on several experienced engineers last month.
- The football club hopes to sign on the talented striker before the transfer window closes.
- Intransitive use:
- After graduating, she signed on with a major consulting firm.
- Many workers had to sign on for unemployment benefits during the economic downturn.
Advanced Usage
- "to sign on to something": To agree to support or participate in a plan, idea, or project.
- All department heads have signed on to the new sustainability initiative.
- "to sign on the dotted line": An idiom meaning to formally agree to a contract by signing it.
- After reviewing the terms, he was ready to sign on the dotted line.
Variants and Related Words
- Signatory (n): A person or party that has signed an agreement or contract.
- All signatories to the treaty must comply with its terms.
- Sign-up (n): The action of enrolling or registering for something.
- The sign-up for the new course begins next week.
Synonyms
- Enlist: To enroll for service.
- Register: To enter one's name on an official list.
- Contract: To enter into a formal agreement.
- Hire: To employ someone (used from the employer's perspective).
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Sign up: Very similar in meaning, often used interchangeably with "sign on" for joining services, courses, or mailing lists. "Sign up" can sound slightly less formal than "sign on" for employment.
- I signed up for a pottery class.
- Sign off: To give formal approval by signing, or to end a communication.
- The manager signed off on the budget.
- The radio host signed off with his usual catchphrase.
- Sign in: To record one's arrival by signing a register.
- Please sign in at the reception desk when you arrive.
Verb
- engage by written agreement
- They signed two new pitchers for the next season