idiom. to have a strong personal opinion about something that you want people to accept and that is the reason why you do something: Environmentalists have no political axe to grind – they just want to save the planet.

Where does the saying axe to grind come from?

This saying most likely originates from an essay called “Who’ll Turn Grindstones?”, which was written in 1810 by Charles Miner, editor of Pennsylvania’s “The Gleaner and Luzerne Advertiser.” His essay features the saying “to have an axe to grind.”

What is an ax to grind donor?

Noun. ax to grind (plural axes to grind) (American spelling) A proposition or point of view to advocate, especially motivated by self-interest. quotations ▼

What is a synonym for an axe to grind?





“There is nothing intrinsically wrong with a movie having a political ax to grind.”



What is another word for ax to grind?

grievance complaint
axe to grind bone to pick
crow to pluck big problem

What does kiss my axe mean?

used to tell someone that you will not do what they want you to do. (Definition of kiss my arse! from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

What does axe mean in slang?

(informal) A dismissal or rejection. His girlfriend/boss/schoolmaster gave him the axe.

What does giving the ax mean?



: to dismiss (someone) from a job : to fire (someone) His boss gave him the ax.

Is it spelled axe or ax?

Here’s a tip: Outside of the United States, you are most likely to encounter the longer spelling—axe. But you will see axe in American English fairly frequently. Many dictionaries say that “ax” is the most common spelling in the U.S. You will find the shortened form in compound names such as pickax and poleax.



How do I grind without an axe?

to have a selfish reason or strong opinion that influences your actions: The study should be conducted by a firm that has no axe to grind.

What is the meaning of to grind?

: to become pulverized, polished, or sharpened by friction. 3. : to move with difficulty or friction especially so as to make a grating noise. gears grinding.

Where did the term axe for guitar come from?

It Started With The Sax



A guitar is called an axe thanks to the jazz musicians of the ’50s who first coined the term. The use of the word ‘axe’ as a slang term for a musical instrument actually began with the saxophone in 1955, and then, later on, the trumpet.

What is the saying about the grindstone?



nose to the grindstone (plural noses to the grindstone or noses to grindstones) (idiomatic, obsolete) Used to form idioms meaning “to force someone to work hard or to focus intensely upon their work“.

Have an axe to grind OA private end to serve O to fail to arouse interest o to have no result O to work for both sides?

Complete answer:



The idiom, ‘to have an axe to grind’ means to perform an act for personal reasons.

Why is axe slang for guitar?

Guitar Slang



The Axe – or Ax, depending on whom you ask – is possibly the most common slang word for a guitar. Surprisingly, the term dates back to the mid-’50s when jazz musicians used it as a slang word for saxophone. Over time, it became a go-to term for the electric guitar.

What do you call an amazing guitar player?

A virtuoso is an incredibly talented musician. You can also be a virtuoso in non-musical fields. A politician who helps pass a lot of bills might be called a legislative virtuoso. A baseball player who hits a lot of home runs is a slugging virtuoso.

Why do Americans spell axe without an E?



Ax and axe are different spellings of the same word. Axe is standard in varieties of English from outside the U.S. Axe also appears in American English, but the newer spelling, ax, has gained ground over the last half century and is now more common. The distinction extends to compounds involving ax and axe.