head-hunting
Britishnoun
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the practice among certain peoples of removing the heads of slain enemies and preserving them as trophies
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the recruitment, esp through an agency, of executives from one company to another, often rival, company
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slang the destruction or neutralization of political opponents
Other Word Forms
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.
“I do think that they were head-hunting, but I don’t think he meant to try to impose a life-changing injury,” Pittman said.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 22, 2023
The Bengals immediately became better when they cut head-hunting linebacker Vontaze Burfict, and they have legitimate talent elsewhere on defense with Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap.
From Slate ● Dec. 4, 2019
Until Malingi revealed the missionaries had also persuaded his ancestors to stop head-hunting.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2018
"Banks are looking to keep the bulk of their operations in the UK but some are hedging their bets on Germany," said Alex Howard-Keyes, a partner at the London-based international head-hunting firm Alderbrooke.
From Reuters ● Nov. 7, 2016
A stockade had been erected, and the Rajah had stationed a small company of native soldiers under an English officer to keep the head-hunting Dyaks in check.
From Tales of the Malayan Coast From Penang to the Philippines by Rounsevelle Wildman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
