axe

(also US ax)

/æks/ noun

Definition

get/be given the axe › if employees, services, etc. get the axe or are given the axe, a decision is made to get rid of them: A planned expansion of Wyoming health programs could get the ax next year.

face the axe › HR, WORKPLACE, MANAGEMENT if employees face the axe, they may lose their jobs, especially because their employer needs to reduce costs: Hundreds of construction workers are facing the axe after a fall in demand for new housing.

take an axe to sth/wield the axe › HR, WORKPLACE, MANAGEMENT to decide to get rid of a large number of employees or to no longer provide particular services: 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.

the axe falls › HR, WORKPLACE, MANAGEMENT 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: The axe fell after the successful conclusion of merger talks between two of Germany's biggest banks.

have an axe to grind › to have a strong opinion about something that you want other people to accept: Most shareholders have no ax to grind other than keeping company management honest.

(Definition of axe noun from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)