26984 words

axe

11 definitions • 13 examples
1
a tool that has a heavy iron or steel blade at the end of a long wooden handle, used for cutting wood:

Examples:

Julian used an axe to chop down the old apple tree.
2
the situation in which someone loses their job:

Examples:

Over 500 staff are facing the axe.
3
When a service, plan, etc. gets the axe, it is stopped or prevented from happening:

Examples:

Religious programmes will be the first to get the axe if she's put in charge of the station.
4
to reduce services, jobs, payments, etc. a lot or completely without warning or in a single action:

Examples:

Because of the recession the company is to axe 350 jobs.
The TV series will be axed owing to a decline in popularity.
5

Examples:

axe jobs/posts/staff One of the UK's biggest retailers yesterday unveiled plans to axe up to 1,000 jobs in an attempt to kickstart its recovery.
6
to stop providing a particular service because it is no longer profitable:

Examples:

7
if employees, services, etc. get the axe or are given the axe, a decision is made to get rid of them:

Examples:

A planned expansion of Wyoming health programs could get the ax next year.
8
if employees face the axe, they may lose their jobs, especially because their employer needs to reduce costs:

Examples:

Hundreds of construction workers are facing the axe after a fall in demand for new housing.
9

Examples:

Legislators are considering taking an ax to the latest spending plans.
Companies have to know how to wield the axe when market conditions demand it.
10
if the axe falls, a company needs to get rid of a large number of employees or can no longer afford to provide particular services:

Examples:

The axe fell after the successful conclusion of merger talks between two of Germany's biggest banks.
11
to have a strong opinion about something that you want other people to accept:

Examples:

Most shareholders have no ax to grind other than keeping company management honest.

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