dirty work
Americannoun
-
disagreeable, often tedious tasks.
-
any illegal or dishonest dealing.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
House managers say they draw the line at dirty work like cleaning toilets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
Technologists envision a future where robots can supplement a declining labor force caused by shifting demographics, and spare humans from dangerous and dirty work.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
Friday's episode saw the the Traitors at it again, murdering Last of Us actor Bella Ramsey, before the faithfuls did their dirty work for them by killing another of their own, Julie Hesmondhalgh.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
In the quieter moments, Malkovich lets us see Chris reckoning with a life spent doing his country’s dirty work.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
They were at least two inches long, which was his way of showing that he didn’t have to use his hands for rough or dirty work.
From "Homesick" by Jean Fritz
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
