hack, slash, hack and slash

Sohu.com hopes U.S. investors like its hack-and-slash videogames enough to give it $120 million.

Hack and slash or hack and slay can refer to either a subgenre of action game, or a type of gameplay. In both cases, it describes the emphasis on close combat with short-range weapons. "Hack and slash" was originally used to describe an aspect of pen and paper role-playing games (RPGs).

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hack (CUT) Show phonetics
verb
1 [I or T; + adverb or preposition] to cut into pieces in a rough and violent way, often without aiming exactly:
Three villagers were hacked to death in a savage attack.
Don't just hack (away) at the bread - cut it properly!
The butcher hacked off a large chunk of meat.
FIGURATIVE The article had been hacked about (= carelessly changed) so much it was scarcely recognizable.

2 [T usually + adverb or preposition] UK in football and rugby, to kick the ball away or to foul (= act against the rules) by kicking another player in the leg:
Platt was twice hacked down in the second half by the other team's sweeper.

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slash (CUT) Show phonetics
verb
1 [I or T] to cut with a sharp blade using a quick strong swinging action:
The museum was broken into last night and several paintings were slashed.
She tried to commit suicide by slashing her wrists.
We had to slash (our way) through the long grass to clear a path.

2 [T] INFORMAL to greatly reduce something, such as money or jobs:
Prices have been slashed by 50%!

slash Show phonetics
noun [C]
1 a long, deep cut

2 a long swinging hit:
Ben took a wild slash at the ball and luckily managed to hit it.

3 a decorative opening in a piece of clothing, often with a different colour showing through it:
My new dress is pale blue, with a dark blue slash in the sleeves.

slasher Show phonetics
noun [C] INFORMAL
a person who kills or injures people using a knife