political hack
3
8.6
- noun
- /pəˈlɪtɪkəl hæk/
- Offensive
:
politicastro
- Career U.S. diplomats have been underpaid, overtasked, and generally overmanaged by political hacks since the JFK era.
Examples
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If the CIA is relying on advice from Mr. O'Hanlon in his capacity as a member of its External Advisory Board, then the agency is getting very bad advice from a person who, it turns out, is nothing more than a "political hack."
Blog text (4) -
The Democrats are absolute political hacks.
Blog text (4) -
These people are gutless political hacks.
Blog text (13) -
Paid political hacks do it on behalf of their clientele every day.
Blog text (31) -
The Bureau must be divorced from politics and not be a catchall for political hacks.
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Many people criticize the mayor, calling him just another political hack more concerned with his own career than the community.
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After years of serving his party, he was seen as a political hack who only acted for personal gain.
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The senator's reputation suffered after a scandal revealed him to be a political hack focused on advancing his own interests.
Synonyms
100
5.4
A person who uses secret plans to gain power in a group
1
9.9
A local person who gets votes for a political party by offering favors
1
9.9
A politician who uses power for illegal or dishonest acts
A person in politics who serves a powerful party group for personal gain
A person who gives goods or favors to get votes
A person who takes money unfairly by accepting bribes
Antonyms
How Self-Serving
27
5.9
- Offensive
3
8.6
∞
2.9
42
4.8
43
3.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is partly inferable: 'political' locates the domain and 'hack' denotes a low-quality or cynical professional, so a B1 learner who knows both words could reasonably guess it refers to a derogatory kind of politician. However, the specific connotations (careerism, partisan loyalty, unscrupulous behavior) and the pejorative nuance are not fully predictable without exposure, so it is not fully transparent.
Etymology
Political hack uses the old word hack, which once meant a hired worker or writer who did quick, routine jobs for money. Put political before hack and you get the picture of someone who works for a party or boss 'for hire' rather than for the public, so the phrase now means a politician who is 'self-serving' or works for 'special interests'.