farm hand
C1Informal, occasionally Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A person who is employed to do physical labour on a farm.
A manual agricultural worker, typically performing tasks like planting, harvesting, feeding animals, and maintaining equipment and land. May imply a seasonal or low-skilled labourer, though can refer to any hired farm worker.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies physical, non-specialised labour. Can have historical connotations of hired manual help on a family farm. The two-word form 'farm hand' is more common than the hyphenated 'farm-hand'. Typically a countable noun.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly used in American English due to the larger scale and historical prevalence of hired farm labour. In British English, 'farm worker' is more frequent.
Connotations
In both varieties, it can connote a humble, hardworking, and sometimes low-status occupation. In AmE, it may also evoke imagery of the American frontier or Dust Bowl era.
Frequency
Low-medium frequency in AmE; low frequency in BrE, where 'farm worker' is the dominant term.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] works as a farm hand[NP] hired a farm hand[NP] is a farm handVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to 'farm hand']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; 'agricultural labourer' or 'seasonal worker' preferred.
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing; 'agricultural labourer' or 'farm worker' used in sociological/historical contexts.
Everyday
Used in conversation and narrative to describe someone's job on a farm.
Technical
Not a technical term; specific roles like 'tractor driver', 'herdsman', 'harvester operator' are used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He farm-handed for a season in Kent before going to university.
American English
- He farm-handed on his uncle's spread out in Nebraska every summer.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial usage]
American English
- [No standard adverbial usage]
adjective
British English
- He had a classic farm-hand upbringing, tough and outdoorsy.
American English
- She wore a worn, farm-hand style jacket.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My uncle needs a farm hand for the summer.
- He worked as a farm hand, waking up at dawn to feed the animals.
- The memoir recounted his years as a migrant farm hand, moving from harvest to harvest.
- The economic policies led to a sharp decline in the number of traditional farm hands, replaced by mechanised seasonal crews.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A FARM HAND is literally a HAND (worker) for the FARM.
Conceptual Metaphor
LABOUR IS A TOOL (the hand is a basic tool).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'фермер' (farmer/owner).
- Closer to 'сельскохозяйственный рабочий', 'батрак' (historical), or 'работник на ферме'.
- Avoid 'помощник фермера' unless the context clearly indicates a subordinate helper role.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling as one word: 'farmhand' (acceptable but less common).
- Confusing with 'farmer'.
- Using in formal registers where 'agricultural worker' is more appropriate.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary connotation of 'farm hand'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'farmhand' is an acceptable variant, though the two-word form 'farm hand' is slightly more common in general usage.
A 'farmer' typically owns or manages the farm. A 'farm hand' is a hired employee who performs physical labour for the farmer.
No, it is a neutral descriptive term for an occupation. However, in some socio-economic contexts, it might be perceived as emphasising low-skilled or low-status work, so 'farm worker' is often a safer, more neutral choice.
It is best used for workers involved in general manual labour. For specialised roles like a vet, agronomist, or machine operator, more specific terms are preferable.
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