hatchet job

plural hatchet jobs

1. A journalistic or other treatment which portrays its subject in a very unfavorable manner; a work of criticism which aims to destroy a reputation.

   That article about the mayor is nothing more than a hatchet job.

   2 more examples

   In smooth RP tones that belie his German parentage, he explains that none of his hachet jobs were written out of personal animosity.

   2016 April 9, Philip Oltermann, “Michael Hofmann: ‘English is basically a trap. It’s almost a language for spies’”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

   Even the tabloid Bild, hardly known as a haven of art-house snobbery, published a hatchet job. “There are good literary adaptations and there are bad ones, and then there is All Quiet on the Western Front by director Edward Berger,” Bild’s critic wrote.

   2023 January 27, Philip Oltermann, “German critics pan Oscar-nominated All Quiet On the Western Front”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

   Synonyms: slam piece, hit piece, traducement, calumny, calumniation, obloquy, defamation · Antonyms: puff piece

2. An action or a program which imposes deep reductions in expenditure.

   This so-called reform of our wage agreement was really just one big hatchet job!