hatchet man
The term "hatchet man" is used to describe individuals who carry out unpleasant or ruthless tasks, often on behalf of someone else.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
C1Corporate
(informal)A person tasked with making difficult decisions, such as firing employees or cutting budgets.
Example
- The new CEO brought in a hatchet man to restructure the company.
C1Politics
(informal)An operative who performs ruthless or unscrupulous tasks to discredit opponents or carry out controversial actions.
Example
- He was known as the senator's hatchet man, always ready to attack political rivals.
C1Media
(informal)A writer or journalist who specializes in harsh, often unfair, criticism of individuals or organizations.
Example
- The columnist earned a reputation as a hatchet man for his scathing reviews.
C1Crime
(informal)A person hired to commit violent acts, such as murder, often within a criminal context.
Example
- The mob boss sent his hatchet man to take care of the problem.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "hatchet man":
hatchet jobhatchet woundhired gunhit squadwood chopperhack away