EMPLOYMENT
bread and butter
[a person's] livelihood or income. (Referring to food. Fixed order.)Selling cars is a lot of hard work, but it's my bread and butter.It was hard to give up my bread and butter, but I felt it was time to retire.
bring home the bacon
to earn a salary. (Folksy.)I've got to get to work if I'm going to bring home the bacon.Go out and get a job so you can bring home the bacon.
get back into harness
to return to one's workplace, such as after a vacation or a period of illness. (Refers to harnessing a horse so it can return to work.)I am not at all anxious to get back into harness after spending two weeks in Mexico.Tom was eager to get back into harness after his illness.
lay someone off
to put an employee out of work, possibly temporarily.They even laid the president off.The computer factory laid off two thousand workers.
nine-to-five job
a job with regular and normal hours.I wouldn't want a nine-to-five job. I like the freedom I have as my own boss.I used to work nights, but now I have a nine-to-five job.
on board
employed by (someone); working with (someone). (Informal.)Our company has a computer specialist on board to advise us about automation.Welcome to the company, Tom. We're all glad you're on board now.
sign on (with someone)
to sign an agreement to work with or for someone, especially on a ship.The sailor signed on with Captain Smith.Hardly any other sailor was willing to sign on.
start someone in (as something) and start someone out (as something)
to start someone on a job as a certain kind of worker.I got a job in a restaurant today. They started me in as a dishwasher.I now work for the telephone company. They started me out as a local operator.
EMPLOYMENT - LACKING
out of work
unemployed, temporarily or permanently.How long have you been out of work?My brother has been out of work for nearly a year.
See also OCCUPATION.
back to the salt mines
phr. back to the workplace.Well, it's Monday morning. Back to the salt mines.Break's over! Back to the salt mines, everybody.
bread and butter
n. one's livelihood.It's bread and butter to me. I have to do it.I can't give it up. It's my bread and butter.
burnout
n. someone no longer effective on the job.As a teacher, Fred is a burnout.We try to find some other employment for the burnouts.
daily grind
n. the tedious pattern of daily work.Well, it's Monday. Time to start another week of the daily grind.The daily grind really gets me down.
Don't call us, we'll call you.
sent. a formulaic expression given to job applicants who have just interviewed or auditioned for a job.Thank you, Eddie Evans. Don't call us, we'll call you.Stupendous, Gloria, just stupendous. What glamour and radiance! Don't call us, we'll call you.
gig
n. a onetime job; an engagement. (Musicians.)I had a gig out on the west side, but I couldn't get there.The gig was canceled because of the snow.
graveyard shift
n. the night shift of work in a factory, usually starting at about midnight.I'd prefer not to work the graveyard shift.The pay is pretty good on the graveyard shift.
land a job
tr. to find a job and be hired.As soon as I land a job and start to bring in some money, I'm going to get a stereo.I managed to land a job at a factory.
moonlight
in. to work at a second job.Larry had to moonlight to earn enough to feed his family.A lot of people have to moonlight to make ends meet.
nine-to-five
mod. typical in terms of working hours; structured and scheduled, starting and ending at set times. (From the expression from nine to five, normal working hours.)I work nineto- five.I really wanted a nine-to-five job until I finally got one.I can't stand the nine-to-five rat race.
racket
n. any job or business.I've been in this racket for twenty years and never made any money.I'm a stockbroker. What's your racket?
swing shift
n. an evening work shift in a factory, usually from mid-afternoon to midnight.I don't mind the swing shift. I'm a night person anyway.My brother works the swing shift, so I never get to see him.
visiting fireman
n. someone paying a visit to observe one's workplace.We have a couple of visiting firemen coming today.Be sure to have these plans out when the visiting firemen come by.
when the eagle flies and day the eagle flies
phr. payday. (The eagle is the one found on U.S. currency.)I'll pay you back when the eagle flies.I'll find you the day the eagle flies.