hatchet
B2Formal in literal meaning, informal/figurative in idioms and metaphors.
Definition
Meaning
A small, short-handled axe with a hammerhead on the back side, typically used with one hand for chopping wood.
A tool or weapon; also a verb meaning to cut or dismiss something severely (e.g., 'to hatchet jobs', 'to hatchet a budget'); or to bury a grudge ('bury the hatchet').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Evokes connotations of rough work, violence, decisive cutting, or reconciliation (in idiom). Less precise than 'axe' for large tools.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in literal meaning. The phrase 'hatchet job' is slightly more common in US media criticism.
Connotations
Similar in both: frontier, camping, manual labour; metaphorical use for harsh criticism is shared.
Frequency
Comparable frequency; slightly more common in American English due to historical/cultural references (frontier life).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + the hatchet (e.g., bury, wield)hatchet + [noun] (e.g., job, man)[possessive] + hatchet + [verb] (e.g., his hatchet fell)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bury the hatchet”
- “hatchet job”
- “hatchet man”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorical: 'The new CEO was seen as a hatchet man, brought in to cut costs.'
Academic
Rare, except in historical/archaeological contexts describing tools.
Everyday
Literal: 'We need a hatchet to split kindling for the fire.' Figurative: 'They finally buried the hatchet after years of arguing.'
Technical
Used in forestry, survival training, tool manufacturing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The editor decided to hatchet several paragraphs from the controversial article.
- They agreed to hatchet their old rivalry and start fresh.
American English
- Management hatcheted the entire research department in the restructuring.
- The film was heavily hatcheted by the critics.
adjective
British English
- He has a rather hatchet-faced appearance.
- The hatchet-blade profile of the new car is aerodynamic.
American English
- She gave him a hatchet-eyed glare across the room.
- The politician's hatchet-sharp comments made headlines.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He used a hatchet to cut the small branches.
- The hatchet is sharp.
- We need a hatchet to make firewood for the camping trip.
- After the argument, they decided to bury the hatchet.
- The journalist did a real hatchet job on the minister's reputation.
- The survival expert demonstrated how to use a hatchet safely.
- Appointed as the corporate hatchet man, his first task was to streamline the bloated departments.
- The memoir was a literary hatchet job, savagely dismantling the author's former allies.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HATCHet – imagine a small axe used to HATCH open a coconut or a block of wood.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRITICISM/TERMINATION IS WIELDING A HATCHET (e.g., 'hatchet job', 'hatchet man').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'топорик' (small axe) in all contexts – for 'hatchet man' use 'наёмный убийца' or 'чистильщик'.
- 'Bury the hatchet' idiom translates to 'закопать топор войны'.
- Avoid confusing with 'мотыга' (hoe) or 'секира' (poleaxe).
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'hatchet' with 'axe' (hatchet is smaller, one-handed).
- Using 'hatchet' as a verb incorrectly (e.g., 'He hatcheted the wood' is rare; 'He hacked with a hatchet' is better).
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'hatchet job' primarily mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A hatchet is a small, one-handed tool with a hammerhead, used for light chopping. An axe is larger, two-handed, for heavier work like felling trees.
Yes, but mainly in figurative or journalistic contexts (e.g., 'to hatchet a budget' or 'to hatchet a reputation'). It's less common than the noun form.
It originates from a Native American peace ritual where warring tribes would literally bury a hatchet (or other weapons) to signify the end of hostilities.
Yes, in the compound 'hatchet man', meaning someone employed to carry out unpleasant tasks like dismissals or harsh criticism, often on behalf of others.
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