hatchet job

• Eine heftige, ungerechte oder bösartig zerstörerische Kritik an einer Person, ihrem Ruf oder ihrer Arbeit, oft in Form eines Artikels oder einer Rezension. Bezeichnet auch eine gezielte Schmutzkampagne oder Verleumdung.

A harsh, unfair, or maliciously destructive attack on someone's character, reputation, or work, often in a written or verbal form such as a critical article or review.

1. Harsh criticismC1informal

   A deliberately unfair, malicious, or destructive attack on someone's reputation or work, often in writing or speech.

   Vernichtende Kritik

   • The newspaper article was a complete hatchet job on the politician.
   • The critic's review was a hatchet job, ignoring all the film's positive aspects.
   • He felt the biography was a hatchet job designed to ruin his legacy.

2. Poorly done workC1informal

   A piece of work that is done very badly or carelessly, often resulting in damage.

   Schluderarbeit

   • The renovation was a hatchet job; the walls are already cracking.
   • The report was a hatchet job, full of errors and missing data.
   • They did a hatchet job on the garden, cutting down all the healthy trees.