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dirty work

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dirty work

 

1. Fig. unpleasant or uninteresting work. My boss does all the traveling. I get all the dirty work to do. She's tired of doing all the dirty work at the office.

2. Fig. dishonest or underhanded actions; treachery. She knew there was some dirty work going on when she saw her opponents whispering together. The company seems respectable enough, but there's a lot of dirty work that goes on.

See also: dirty, work

dirty work

An unpleasant, distasteful, or thankless task or job. For example, Jane complained that she had to do all the dirty work while her colleagues took long vacations . [First half of 1900s]

See also: dirty, work

dirty work

1. n. menial work; hard work. Why do I always get stuck with the dirty work?

2. n. sneaky activities. I hear that Sam is up to his old dirty work again.

See also: dirty, work