wet work

See also: wetwork

English

wet work (uncountable)

(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
(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.
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.