golden handcuffs
plural noun
a series of raises, bonuses, etc., given at specified intervals or tied to length of employment so as to keep an executive from leaving the company.
Origin of golden handcuffs
First recorded in 1985–90
Words nearby golden handcuffs
golden gate bridge,
golden goal,
golden goose,
golden gram,
golden hamster,
golden handcuffs,
golden handshake,
golden hello,
golden horde,
golden horn,
golden horseshoe
British Dictionary definitions for golden handcuffs
golden handcuffs
pl n
informal
payments deferred over a number of years that induce a person to stay with a particular company or in a particular job
Idioms and Phrases with golden handcuffs
golden handcuffs
Financial benefits that an employee will lose upon resigning, as in The company's presented all the middle managers with golden handcuffs, so they can't afford to leave. This slangy business expression dates from the 1970s.