on his payroll

USAGE SUMMARY

"on his payroll" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe when someone is employed by a specific employer and is receiving a salary from them. For example: "John has been on his payroll for several years now, and he is a valuable asset to the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It suggests Tommy wasn't so much a belt-and-braces man as a man with an obsession with finding bent coppers to put on his payroll.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

His wife, Mabel, a former prostitute he had kept on his payroll for 24 years as a "housekeeper" until marrying her shortly after Hetty's death, helped him spend.

Forbes

While in power, he orchestrated a number of assassinations in American cities and in Mexico by young U.S. citizens whom he put on his payroll.

Wikipedia

The Venezuelan terrorist Ilich Ramírez Sánchez (a.k.a. Carlos the Jackal) was on his payroll at one point.

The New Yorker

Other than the administrative assistants on his payroll, "No one got a nickel in compensation; none of them had to do a single thing they did," says Poindexter.

Forbes

In Dulles's papers, one can read his complaint that "there is growing evidence that [Rockefeller] is going into business in rather a big way," and that Rockefeller at one point had forty-seven peonle on his payroll.

The New Yorker

With an investment of $10m and 3,500 workers on his payroll, he is creating one of the largest tobacco farms in the world from scratch.

The Economist

The Magnetar story was first reported in the Wall Street Journal back on January 14 , 2008 one day before John Paulson put Alan Greenspan on his payroll.

Huffington Post

Today, at 65, he is one of China's wealthiest private entrepreneurs, with more than 5,000 workers on his payroll.

The Economist

Even people on his payroll objected.

The New York Times

There were no public relations officers on his payroll.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing illicit activities or corruption, consider using the phrase "on his payroll" to suggest unethical or illegal influence through employment, as it implies a degree of control or obligation.

Common error

Avoid using "on his payroll" to describe contractors or freelancers. This phrase implies direct employment and regular salary payments, which doesn't apply to those working on a contract basis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on his payroll" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or verb, indicating the state of being employed and compensated by a specific person or entity. It specifies the nature of the employment relationship. As stated in Ludwig, this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "on his payroll" is a correct and commonly used phrase to describe someone who is directly employed and compensated by a particular person or entity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and appropriate for various contexts, particularly in news and media. While seemingly straightforward, it can imply more than just employment such as influence. Therefore, consider alternatives like "employed by him" or "on his staff" depending on the nuance you want to convey. Be mindful to not use it for contractors and freelancers, but reserve it for direct employees.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on his staff

Similar to "on his payroll", but emphasizes the collective group of employees rather than the payment aspect.

employed by him

This alternative directly states the employment relationship, focusing on the action of being employed.

on the company's payroll

Similar to the original, but refers to the company, or organization.

on the payroll of his company

This specifies that someone is receiving income from the company.

receiving a salary from him

This specifies the financial aspect of the relationship, highlighting the act of receiving payment.

getting paid by him

A more informal way to express receiving a salary.

in his employment

This alternative uses a more formal tone to indicate that someone works for him.

working for him

A general term indicating an employment relationship without specifying payment.

financially supported by him

Emphasizes the financial support aspect, which can be broader than just employment.

listed as an employee

Highlights the formal recording of employment.

FAQs

How can I use "on his payroll" in a sentence?

You can use "on his payroll" to indicate that someone is employed and receives regular payments from a particular person or organization. For example, "The businessman had several politicians "on his payroll"."

What are some alternatives to saying "on his payroll"?

Alternatives include "employed by him", "on his staff", or "receiving a salary from him". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "on their payroll" instead of "on his payroll"?

Yes, "on their payroll" is correct when referring to a group or organization, whereas "on his payroll" refers to a single male employer. For example, "The company had over 100 employees "on their payroll"."

What does it imply when someone is described as being "on his payroll"?

It implies that the person is directly employed and compensated by the individual mentioned. It can also suggest influence or potential bias, especially in contexts involving politicians or other figures of authority. Therefore, make sure to use it with precision and intention.