鸟枪换炮- use in this context?

[Scoobyqueen]

Would you be able to use 鸟枪换炮 in the context of a company that had starting to employ more skilled people to do the work or is it only ever used about things and processes?

[leeyah]

Apparently, it refers to both people and things, meaning xx 大有进步.

People context:

瞧,咱现在也鸟枪换炮了!

刚开始见到他的时候,总是他一个人进进出出。突然鸟枪换炮了, ...

工作/公司 context: （）

中国军队80年“鸟枪换炮”

This page crashed my browser, so here's only the 百度 quote:

司机的工资好像是很低的,具体多少没有问。 另外司机的工资应该和开什么车没有成正比吧。有一些供货商这几年也都鸟枪换炮了,从以前的普桑、捷达都换成奔驰、宝马了。司机还是原来的司机。但我想工资应该没有实质上的变化。

[fengyixiao]

It refers to both people and things,but don't use it in formal places.

Because this idiom is used for funny in people who are familiar with each other.

You can say "中国军队80年“鸟枪换炮”",but the official newpaper or television won't say that.

[leeyah]

Thank you for pointing out the finesse in meaning of the idiom, fengyixiao. So, it's informal language. Given the context above it was pretty obvious it's not some grand phrase. But what dictionaries give as its English translation can be quite misleading.