Hatchet man Meaning in English
expression
Definición
A person whose job is to carry out unpleasant or ruthless tasks for someone in power, especially firing people or taking harsh actions.
Uso & Matices
Informal and often negative; not literal—refers to executing unpopular or harsh orders. Common in business and politics. Collocates with 'brought in as the hatchet man' or 'play the hatchet man'. Never means someone with an actual hatchet.
Oraciones de Ejemplo
The company brought in a hatchet man to fire half the staff.
basic
No one likes to be the hatchet man in any organization.
basic
He acted as the hatchet man for the new manager.
basic
Nobody wants the job of hatchet man, but someone has to do it.
natural
After the restructuring, she was labeled as the hatchet man by her colleagues.
natural
He has a reputation as the company's hatchet man, so people stay on his good side.
natural