ax

3 definitions • 5 examples

a tool consisting of a heavy iron or steel blade at the end of a long wooden handle, used for cutting wood

The ax is the order to give up your job or to stop or prevent something from happening:

Three staff members got the ax yesterday.

If the budget is cut, educational programs will get the ax.

Everyone is scared to death wondering where the ax will fall next.

to order someone suddenly to give up a job, or to stop or reduce something suddenly:

The company has already axed 14 people, and many more may lose their jobs.

Yesterday the airline axed three of its daily flights to Chicago.