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ax to grind

English

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ax to grind¹

noun axes to grind · axe to grind

  1. US, idiomatic A proposition or point of view to advocate, especially motivated by self-interest. “See,” Koteks said, “if you can get them to drop their clause on patents. That, lady, is my ax to grind.”

ax to grind²

Where it comes from

A reference to someone sharpening an axe with the intent to kill someone.

noun axes to grind · axe to grind

  1. US, idiomatic A grudge or grievance, with implications of confrontation. If one is not just writing history but also trying to condemn and “demolish” one’s enemy, as Neumann is, you need a deeper level of introspection, and a high standard of proof. If not, it’s better to let “silence be a fence for wisdom.” (Pirkei Avot 3:13) It’s not possible to maintain the curiosity

Translations

Every language

noun proposition or point of view

Françaisintention cachée, intentions cachées
Italianointeresse personale, carta da giocare, rimprovero

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MLA

"ax to grind." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/ax%20to%20grind. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

ax to grind. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/ax%20to%20grind

Chicago

"ax to grind." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/ax%20to%20grind.

BibTeX
@misc{ax_to_grind_2026,
  title = {ax to grind},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/ax%20to%20grind},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}