A person hired to do an unpleasant or violent task, especially one who fires employees or delivers bad news for others.
Hatchet (a small axe) + man. Originally referred to someone using a hatchet as a weapon; evolved metaphorically to mean someone who 'cuts down' or destroys things for an employer.
The term became famous during Chinese-American gang violence in the 1800s, but it now more commonly describes corporate executives tasked with layoffs—the modern 'hatchet men' of business!
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