wet work

See also: wetwork

English

Alternative forms

• wetwork

Etymology

Calque of Russian мо́крое де́ло (mókroje délo).

Noun

wet work (uncountable)

1. (euphemistic) Covert assassination performed by government operatives.
   • Joe: Victoria was the best wet work operator the Agency ever had.
     Woman 1: What does that mean?
     Victoria: I killed people, dearie.
     - From the motion picture RED
2. (by extension) Work within a gang or organization that involves killing or attacking people, for assassination or intimidation.
   • 2009, Dana Stabenow, Whisper to the Blood, →ISBN, page 132:

     He had also done a lot of Louis Deems' wet work, especially when it came to intimidating juries.

3. Cleaning tasks that involve scrubbing with cleansers.
   • 2011, Autumn Stephens, Roar Softly and Carry a Great Lipstick, →ISBN:

     Most of the time I clean with A.J. or another coworker, who vacuums while I do the wet work—bathrooms and kitchens.

Translations

covert assassination

• Russian: мо́крое де́ло (ru) n (mókroje délo)

See also

• wet job
• terminate with extreme prejudice