hatchet job

noun
1.
a maliciously destructive critique or act:
The special committee has done a hatchet job on the new proposal.
Also called ax job.
Origin
1940-45
Examples from the web for hatchet job
  • The piece was a hatchet job, designed to inspire the uniformed.
  • What this book is, then, is a rather dull hatchet job.
  • It is not often that one observes the birth of a neo-con hatchet job.
  • It may be a hatchet job, we'll see, or his preview may simply reflect his view based on the research he has done to date.
  • Some critics predicted that the report, a year in preparation, would be a hatchet job on existing academic standards.
British Dictionary definitions for hatchet job

hatchet job

noun
1.
(informal) a malicious or devastating verbal or written attack
Slang definitions & phrases for hatchet job

hatchet job

noun phrase
  1. A malicious attack; a diatribe or indictment meant to destroy: By hatchet job is meant here a calculated attempt to demolish the author
  2. A discharge or dismissal; ax (1940s+)

Idioms and Phrases with hatchet job

hatchet job

see: hatchet man , def. 2.