dirty work

dirty work

1. Dull or boring tasks. Stop filing and get one of the interns to do that dirty work.
2. Devious and deceptive activities. I'm not surprised that Phil was caught embezzling money from the company—he always seemed to be involved in dirty work. The boss will just get one of his thugs to do his dirty work.
See also: dirty, work
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

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
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

(do somebody’s) ˈdirty work

(do) the unpleasant or dishonest jobs that somebody else does not want to do: Tell him yourself! I don’t see why I should have to do your dirty work for you!
See also: dirty, work
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

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
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • pull a fast one, to
  • delegate
  • delegate (something) to (one)
  • delegate to
  • scut work
  • grunt work
  • sandbag
  • do the donkey work
  • the donkey work
References in classic literature
Here I was, doing dirty work for three men that I looked down upon, and one of whom, at least, should have hung upon a gallows; that was for the present; and as for the future, I could only see myself slaving alongside of negroes in the tobacco fields.
Kidnapped
"Dirty work, dirty work," Billy muttered over and over; and, though he saw much that occurred, assisted by the friendly Irishman he was coolly and safely working Saxon back out of the melee.
The Valley of the Moon
It was rather dirty work, but it was a great delight to them.
Yellow Fairy Book
He looked back rapidly, looked down the avenue of a squalid and unlovely life, saw himself the child of drink-sodden and brutal parents, remembered the Board School with its unlovely surroundings, his struggles at a dreary trade, his running away and the fierce draughts of delight which the joy and freedom of the sea had brought to him on the morning when he had crept on deck, a stowaway, to be lashed with every rope-end and to do the dirty work of every one.
A Millionaire of Yesterday
Somebody's got to do the dirty work, and it might as well be you.
Burning Daylight
How inexpressibly different in these domestic arrangements from such as she had read about -- from abbeys and castles, in which, though certainly larger than Northanger, all the dirty work of the house was to be done by two pair of female hands at the utmost.
Northanger Abbey
"I've waited on you hand and foot, done dirty work for you, put up with your ill-humours and your tyranny, and never grumbled.
The Vanished Messenger
All you have done is to make murder easy for others; to get others to do the dirty work, and then shelter them and share the gain; all you need have on your conscience is every ife that was lost with the Lady Jermyn, and every soul that lost itself in losing them.
Dead Men Tell No Tales
"For, look you, they dream of making lucky voyages which will bring them more money, of becoming the mates of ships, of finding fortunes--in short, of being in a better position for preying on their fellows, of having all night in, good grub and somebody else to do the dirty work. You and I are just like them.
The Sea Wolf
'They will come; it's the dirty work I think, sir--at least I don't know what it is, sir, but it's not my fault.'
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
Of course I've taken the profits from the gouging and, thanks to you, gentlemen, without having personally to do the dirty work. You did that for me--oh, believe me, not because I am more virtuous than you, but because my good father and his various brothers left me a lot of money with which to pay for the dirty work."
The Strength of the Strong
Of certain other achievements it would be going too far to say that he was ashamed of them for Newman had never had a stomach for dirty work. He was blessed with a natural impulse to disfigure with a direct, unreasoning blow the comely visage of temptation.
American
"And I'm to do the dirty work?" Liverpool complained, while Tarwater's heart sank.
The Red One
A conviction began to steal over him that in some way he was being played with, that some game was afoot which he did not understand, that--in a word--there was dirty work at the cross-roads.
The Man Upstairs and Other Stories
"There's something in that," said he, "although I do congratulate the insurance people on getting a man of your class to do their dirty work. And I congratulate myself," he was quick enough to add, "on having you to see me through as bad a night as I've had for a long time.
A Thie in the Night