employ

employ a steam engine to crack a nut

To use excessive, overcomplicated, or extravagant means or force to accomplish something relatively minor or simple. With this new system of issuing licenses, the government has employed a steam engine to crack a nut: four separate departments now handle each stage of an application, when a single department could easily process applications from start to finish.

See also: crack, employ, engine, nut, steam

employ someone as something

to pay someone to work in some capacity. I employed Fred as a personal secretary for about three months. Can you employ me as a stock clerk?

employ someone for something

to hire someone for a particular purpose. I employ him for special chores around the factory. Kelly employed Walter for emergency repairs on the night shift.

employ someone in something

to pay someone to work in a particular type of work. I employ Tom in machine maintenance. Laura is employed in accounting.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Ballaam	['bæləm]
ÁGueda	AH-ge-dhah (Spanish), A-gə-də (Portuguese)	Spanish, Portuguese
Ithamar	-	Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Juliya	YOO-lee-yah (Russian)	Russian, Ukrainian
Oliva	-	Late Roman
Manu (1)	-	Hinduism, Indian, Hindi, Kannada