hatchet man

Or hatchet·man

noun

1. a professional murderer.

2. a writer or speaker who specializes in defamatory attacks, as on political candidates or public officials.

3. a person whose job it is to execute unpleasant tasks for a superior, as dismissing employees.

hatchet man

noun

1. a person carrying out unpleasant assignments for an employer or superior

2. a hired murderer

3. a severe or malicious critic

Word History and Origins

Origin of hatchet man¹

An Americanism dating back to 1745–55

Idioms and Phrases

A person assigned or hired to carry out a disagreeable task or unscrupulous order. For example, When it came to firing an employee, Arthur was his boss's hatchet man . This expression originally referred to a hired assassin but in the mid-1900s was transferred to less nefarious enterprises.

A person who attacks the reputation of others, especially a journalist hired to do so, as in You can count on Mary's column to destroy the mayor—she's the perfect hatchet man . This usage gave rise to hatchet job , meaning “harsh destructive criticism.” [Mid-1900s]