deficit hawk
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A person, especially one in power, who emphasizes keeping government budgets under control, derogatory when such actions are seen as predatory or entail harsh fiscal discipline or austerity.
Register: derogatory, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
He is renowned for his ingenuity, enthusiasm and persistence ... and has established himself as one of the legislature's most ferocious deficit hawks.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “deficit hawk” mean?
A person, especially one in power, who emphasizes keeping government budgets under control, derogatory when such actions are seen as predatory or entail harsh fiscal discipline or austerity.
Is “deficit hawk” formal or informal?
deficit hawk is generally derogatory, slang.