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# wet work

phrase (noun phrase, «wet work», uncountable; also «wetwork»)

«wet work» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (slang, euphemism) murder, especially killing done by spies or hired killers.
2. (literal) work that involves water, like washing or plumbing.

### In the lessons

A cold, secret-agent term from spy stories and thrillers, hiding killing behind a dull job-like phrase; heard in films, novels and some news about intelligence services. The literal sense is ordinary but rare.

### Examples

- (spy novel) The agent was trained for wet work.
- (film) "We don't do wet work," said the spy chief.
- (news) The report claimed the secret service hired criminals for wet work.
- (literal) Plumbing is wet work — wear boots.
- (literal) Washing the dog is wet work!
- (review) The thriller is full of car chases and wet work.

### Note

Trap: in thrillers it means killing; in a garden or kitchen it may be literal. It is a cold euphemism from crime and spy fiction.