dirty work—
1. the necessary work which is dirty, hard, or unpleasant:
- We never had enough applicants. Most folks just don’t want to do the dirty work. 2. unlawful activity, especially undertaken on behalf of another person: Do you generally get other people to do your dirty work for you?
dirty work at the cross-roads—
1. foul play (said of mean or corrupt practices):
- No question of accident or of dirty work at the cross-roads? These rich men have enemies, don’t they?
2. (joc.) said of smth. unpleasant happening:
- There’ll be dirty work at the cross-roads all right, when you lads get together. I suppose you’ll be arriving home about 3 a.m.!