ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fixer

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈfɪksɝ// UK //fˈɪksɐ// fix·er Slang

n. a person who uses their connections or influence to solve difficult problems for others, often in a secret or unofficial way. In photography, it is also a chemical used to make a picture permanent.

n. a person who arranges matters for others, especially by using influence or illegal means to bypass obstacles. In a technical sense, refers to a chemical solution used in the final stage of photographic processing to fix an image.


SIMPLE

The politician hired a fixer to handle the scandal quietly.

CONTEXTUAL

When the foreign journalists arrived in the war zone, they immediately hired a local fixer to arrange transport and interviews.

COMPLEX

While the term often carries a negative connotation of backroom deals, a fixer in international reporting is an essential professional who navigates complex bureaucracy and cultural barriers for visiting media.

Synonyms
Origin

From fix + -er.

Usage

Often used in political or criminal contexts to describe someone who 'makes problems go away'.

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