not for hire

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."
See also: hire, not
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

not for hire

[of a taxi] not available to take new passengers. The taxi was going to pick someone up at a nearby hotel and was not for hire. The taxi had a lighted sign that said it was not for hire.
See also: hire, not
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • aint
  • ain't
  • hope not
  • (I) hope not
  • not for a second
  • not for a minute
  • not for a moment
  • iota
  • not an iota
  • not for a instant
References in periodicals archive
SNOOKER Taxi on hold for Bagley's dream BY HECTOR NUNNS JONATHAN BAGLEY has put up the 'not for hire' sign on his taxi for a few days to chase a Crucible dream.
Taxi on hold for [...]; SNOOKER
However, the DOTr pointed out that RA 4136 specifically classified motorcycles as vehicles that were 'not for hire.'
Department order can't turn motorcycles to PUVs
-Prince Philip likes to take his 2.5-litre Metrocab (no it's not for hire), which has been resprayed green, for a spin round London.
DRIVING FORCE BEHIND ROYALS