rainmaking

English

Etymology

From rain +‎ making.

Noun

rainmaking (uncountable)

1. The attempted artificial production of rain, either by use of magic or by seeding clouds.
   • 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 171:

     There are endless varieties of rain-making practised by witch-doctors[.]

2. (US, informal) Hiring someone who creates business opportunities or revenue.
   • 2005, Steve Sailer, Why (Some) Men Don’t Support Summers‎^[1]:

     His firm's goal was to fill their gender quota—and simultaneously do some rainmaking by hiring the daughters of CEOs.

Related terms

• make it rain
• rainmaker