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hatchet man

Syllabification: (hatch·et man)
Definition of hatchet man

noun

informal
  • a person employed to carry out controversial or disagreeable tasks, such as the dismissal of a number of people from employment.
  • a person who writes fierce attacks on others or their work.

Origin:

late 19th century: figuratively, from an early use denoting a hired Chinese assassin

hatchet man in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of hatchet man in the British & World English dictionary
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Word of the day

kempt

/ kɛm(p)t /
adjective
maintained in a neat and clean condition …