hatchet man

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.

Ever the hatchet man, Harris would attempt to do the same to Gray’s left-wing colleague Terry Cooper in the second half but succeeded only in tearing right through his shorts.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2024

Pence didn’t play the usual vice-presidential roles of hatchet man and attack dog, largely because Trump amply filled those roles himself.

From Washington Post • Nov. 14, 2022

During his eight years as vice president, Nixon was seen as a hatchet man with real-world toughness who went to town on the Republican Party's opponents — even though he had no real power.

From Salon • Dec. 19, 2021

Bailey is the author of well-regarded biographies of John Cheever and Richard Yates, and he strikes me as neither a hatchet man nor a patsy.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2021

The fence said Dad had run him out, but I think the real reason was he had done his job for the steel company as the designated hatchet man.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam