housecleaner
[/ˈhaʊsˌklinər/]
nounpl: housecleaners
faxineiro/faxineira
1. a person employed to clean houses or apartments
The housecleaner comes every Wednesday to tidy up the apartment.
A faxineira vem toda quarta-feira para limpar o apartamento.
2. a person or organization that removes corruption, inefficiency, or unwanted elements
The new CEO acted as a housecleaner, firing incompetent managers.
O novo CEO agiu como limpador, demitindo gerentes incompetentes.
In Brazil, housecleaners (faxineiros/faxineiras) are commonly employed by middle and upper-class families, often working part-time or full-time. The term 'diarista' specifically refers to someone paid daily and is very common in Brazilian Portuguese. In the USA, housecleaners may work independently or for cleaning companies. The figurative use (removing corruption) is used in both cultures in business and political contexts.
Related Idioms & Phrases
do a housecleaning (realizar uma limpeza geral - fig. to remove corruption or inefficiency)
housecleaning operation (operação de limpeza)
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