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- Dictionarydirt·y work/ˈdərdē ˌwərk/
noun
- 1. activities or tasks that are unpleasant or dishonest and given to someone else to undertake: "you're only indispensable to your boss because you do all her dirty work"
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DIRTY WORK definition: an unpleasant or dishonest job, esp. something that other people do not want to do: . Learn more.
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.
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]
unpleasant or illicit activity. See full dictionary entry for dirty. Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers. Word Frequency. dirty work in American English. noun. 1. disagreeable, often tedious tasks. 2. any illegal or dishonest dealing. Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC.
“Dirty work” is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. Here are some examples: “I don’t want to be involved in any dirty work.” (referring to unethical actions) “Someone has to do the dirty work around here.” (referring to unpleasant tasks)
to do something unpleasant or difficult for someone else who does not want to do it himself or herself: Tell her yourself - I'm not going to do your dirty work for you. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Helping and co-operating. abet. accommodative. any port in a storm idiom.
Dirty-work definition: (idiomatic) One or more unpleasant tasks , assignments , or employment duties , especially those of a disreputable or illicit nature.
activities or tasks that are unpleasant or dishonest and given to someone else to undertake: you're only indispensable to your boss because you do all her dirty work
Jun 2, 2024 · dirty work ( uncountable) ( idiomatic) One or more unpleasant tasks, assignments, or employment duties, especially those of a disreputable or illicit nature.
obscene; pornographic; lewd: a dirty joke; dirty pictures. undesirable or unpleasant; disagreeable: You left the dirty work for me. very unfortunate or regrettable: a dirty shame! not fair or sportsmanlike; dishonest; dishonorable: a dirty fighter.
