What Does “Sign sb on” Mean?
“Sign sb on” means to officially register or hire someone for a job or service. It often refers to enrolling someone into an agreement or contract.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “sign sb on” is commonly used in business and employment contexts. It means to officially hire or register someone, such as a new employee or a client. Understanding the “sign sb on meaning” helps learners recognize when someone is being added to a team or service through a formal agreement. This phrase is useful for discussing contracts, job offers, or agreements in everyday English.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: sign somebody on
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to officially hire or register someone
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Sign sb on” is a transitive and separable phrasal verb. You can place the object (sb) between “sign” and “on” or after the entire phrase.
- sign somebody on
- sign on somebody
Both forms are correct. For example, “The company signed him on last week” or “The company signed on him last week.”
How to Use Sign sb on?
Use “sign sb on” when you want to talk about officially adding someone to a team, job, or contract. It is often used in professional or formal settings. You can use it in different tenses depending on when the action happens.
Examples include hiring employees, registering clients, or enrolling participants.
Examples
Here are some natural sentences using “sign sb on in a sentence”:
- The football club signed him on for the new season.
- Our company signed on several new employees last month.
- They decided to sign her on after the successful interview.
- The agency signed on more volunteers for the event.
- We signed on a new client to provide consulting services.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse “sign sb on” with “sign on” alone or misuse the object placement. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: They signed on him new employee.
Correct: They signed him on as a new employee. - Incorrect: She signed on for the job him.
Correct: She signed him on for the job. - Incorrect: We signed on new staff. (Without object, this means registering yourself, not someone else)
Correct: We signed new staff on.
Differences / Synonyms
“Sign sb on” is similar to “hire,” “enroll,” or “register.” However, it specifically implies a formal agreement or contract.
- Hire: To employ someone, but may not always imply a formal contract immediately.
- Enroll: Usually used for joining courses or programs, not jobs.
- Register: To officially record someone’s name, but less specific to employment.
“Sign sb on” focuses on the official act of bringing someone into a role or service.
Common Collocations
When using “sign sb on,” certain words often appear alongside it. These collocations help clarify the context.
- Sign sb on contract: to officially hire someone with a written agreement.
- Sign sb on team: to add a player or member to a group.
- Sign sb on staff: to employ someone as part of the workforce.
- Sign sb on project: to officially assign someone to a task.
- Sign sb on board: to bring someone into a company or team.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of sign sb on:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “sign sb on”:
Manager: We need more help for the new project.
HR: I agree. I’ve just signed on two new employees.
Manager: That’s great! When do they start?
HR: Next Monday.
Practice
Complete the sentences with the correct form of “sign sb on”:
- The company __________ three new designers last week.
- We decided to __________ her __________ for the upcoming event.
- The agency will __________ new volunteers next month.
- Did they __________ you __________ for the internship?
FAQ
- What does “sign sb on” mean?
It means to officially hire or register someone for a job or service. - Is “sign sb on” separable?
Yes, you can place the object between “sign” and “on” or after the phrase. - Can “sign sb on” be used for contracts?
Yes, it often refers to hiring someone with a formal agreement. - What is the difference between “sign sb on” and “sign on”?
“Sign sb on” means hiring someone else, while “sign on” alone usually means registering yourself. - Can “sign sb on” be used in informal speech?
It is more common in formal or business English but can be used informally when talking about hiring.
