Difference between Fend Off and Hatchet Job

FEND OFF vs HATCHET JOB: NOUN

A false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions
An action or a program which imposes deep reductions in expenditure.
A journalistic or other treatment which portrays its subject in a very unfavorable manner; a work of criticism which aims to destroy a reputation.
A severe criticism or malicious verbal attack meant to ruin someone's reputation.
A malicious attack

To ward off; to drive (something) away; to turn away; to defend against; to repel with force or effort.
Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening

Crack down, Get rid of, Eke out, Take aim, Clamp down, Shrug off, Lash out, Debar, Obviate, Deflect, Avert, Avoid, Stave off, Head off, Ward off

Gain ground, Make headway, Crack down, Get rid of, Eke out, Take aim, Clamp down, Shrug off, Lash out, Debar, Obviate, Deflect, Avert, Avoid, Stave off

These heavily armored infantrymen can fend off a Sword blow.
Muslim vote and fend off attacks on his leadership.
But it will help fend off his primary challenger.
Witch Doctor fend off the powerful sting of Skorpios?
Soviet democracy, to fend off Russia in the east.
STATE RESISTANCE PREPARATIONS HELP FEND OFF BIGGER THREATS?
It helps your body fend off the virus.
Learn how to fend off foxtails and fleas.
Rambler, rover, stroller, pel, turn aside, fend off, keep off landloper, nomad, traveller, vagrant.
This fact alone shows that there are causes with the power to fend off death, even if not to fend it off permanently.

The hatchet job quickly went viral, with the twitterverse agreeing that it was terribly funny and horrendously mean.
In other words, a critique is a balanced appraisal, not a hatchet job.
When Zimbabwe's probe started, people thought it was just speculation, a hatchet job to punish certain individuals.
A 79 rating only bested by one phone makes it damn good despite the hatchet job here.
They still want their man Mahoso to do a hatchet job on the free media.
So this is not intended to be a hatchet job on the Brinkmann Gourmet Smoker.
Several months later, BBC with Prince Charles produced a real hatchet job on me.
Wow, that was quite the hatchet job Tony!
BS: cbs planning new hatchet job on bush!
Armstrong calls EPO report 'hatchet job' - Yahoo.