Hatchet Man

Pronunciation: /ˈhætʃɪt mæn/

Definitions of hatchet man

noun a person who is assigned to carry out unpleasant or controversial tasks, often in a ruthless or aggressive manner

Example Sentences

A1 The hatchet man chopped wood for the campfire.

A2 The village hired a hatchet man to clear the overgrown bushes.

B1 The company sent a hatchet man to handle the layoffs.

B2 The politician was known for using a hatchet man to attack opponents.

C1 The mafia boss employed a hatchet man to take care of his enemies.

C2 The ruthless dictator's hatchet man carried out brutal executions without question.

Examples of hatchet man in a Sentence

formal The hatchet man was brought in to make tough decisions and implement necessary changes within the company.

informal I heard the hatchet man is coming in to lay off a bunch of employees.

slang Watch out for the hatchet man, he's known for cutting jobs without warning.

figurative In politics, the hatchet man is often used to refer to someone who carries out the dirty work or attacks on behalf of a higher authority.

Grammatical Forms of hatchet man

• past tense: hatchet manned
• plural: hatchet men
• comparative: more hatchet-like
• superlative: most hatchet-like
• present tense: hatchet mans
• future tense: will hatchet man
• perfect tense: has hatchet manned
• continuous tense: is hatchet manning
• singular: hatchet man
• positive degree: hatchet man
• infinitive: to hatchet man
• gerund: hatchet manning
• participle: hatchet manned

Origin and Evolution of hatchet man

First Known Use: 1850 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The term 'hatchet man' originated in the United States, likely stemming from the use of hatchets as weapons or tools for carrying out violent acts.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to refer to a hired assassin or enforcer, the term 'hatchet man' has evolved to also describe someone who ruthlessly carries out orders or tasks, often with a sense of brutality or decisiveness.