noun
US or axe , pl axes
[count] :a tool that has a heavy metal blade and a long handle and that is used for chopping wood - see also ice ax, pickax
ax to grind
a hidden and often selfish purpose for doing something.
escape the ax
informal :to avoid being ended, eliminated, reduced, etc.
get the ax
informal :to lose your job :to be fired from your job
give (someone) the ax
informal :to dismiss (someone) from a job :to fire (someone)
take the/an ax to
informal :to eliminate (something) or reduce (something) severely
verb
or axe axes; axed; axing
[+ obj] informal
to cut or remove (something)
to fire (someone)