hatchet man
or hatch·et·man
- a professional murderer.
- a writer or speaker who specializes in defamatory attacks, as on political candidates or public officials.
- a person whose job it is to execute unpleasant tasks for a superior, as dismissing employees.
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Origin of hatchet man
An Americanism dating back to 1745–55
Also called axman.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for hatchet man
Historical Examples
The hatchet-man with whom Wilbur was fighting had been backing in this direction.
Moran of the Lady LettyFrank Norris
And woe to the boat if her hatchet-man fails to cut the rope at the very second of danger!
Careers of Danger and DaringCleveland Moffett
hatchet man
- a person carrying out unpleasant assignments for an employer or superior
- US and Canadian a hired murderer
- a severe or malicious critic
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Idioms and Phrases with hatchet man
hatchet man
1
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.
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2
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]
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.