the toil of ink-stained hacks

#1 (**permalink**) 10-May-2003, 09:55

Hi,

Could anybody tell me what the phrase 'the toil of ink-stained hacks' means? The word 'hack' here refers to the person who writes only for money.

Thanks a lot.

Mei

**Tdol** · #2 (**permalink**) 10-May-2003, 17:35

Hack can also be used negatively to mean journalists in British English.

The image of them stained with ink after work is, presumably, to compare them to manual workers like miners.

**RonBee** · #3 (**permalink**) 10-May-2003, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by mei

Hi,

Could anybody tell me what the phrase 'the toil of ink-stained hacks' means? The word 'hack' here refers to the person who writes only for money.

Thanks a lot.

Mei

As TDOL indicated, "hack" is used to indicate a writer who is not expecially talented. Hacks are, supposedly, known for turning out oodles of crapola. :wink:

:)

8)


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