Meaning of dirty work | Babel Free

Definitions

One or more unpleasant tasks, assignments, or employment duties, especially those of a disreputable or illicit nature.

idiomatic, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“[A] sort of little back kitchen, where dirty work, such as washing up dishes, might be done.”

“"I am no telltale," said James scornfully. […] Jasper urged James to give information about Rodney, but he steadily refused. "I leave others to do such dirty work," he said.”

“[M]any a business-man can say he doesn't do dirty work, because he has others do it for him.”

“In a job like that you see the dirty work of Empire at close quarters. The wretched prisoners huddling in the stinking cages of the lock-ups, the grey, cowed faces of the long-term convicts, the scarred buttocks of the men who had been flogged with bamboos—all these oppressed me with an intolerable sense of guilt.”

“US experts believe the Iraqi intelligence service will set the plots in motion, then recruit or extort amateurs to do the dirty work.”

“Das ist die Drecksarbeit, die Israel macht für uns alle.”

CEFR level