axe
[noun]
Synonyms:
- hatchet, adze, chopper
- the axe: the sack (informal), dismissal, termination, the boot (slang), the chop (slang)
[verb]
Synonyms:
- cut back, cancel, dismiss, dispense with, eliminate, fire (informal), get rid of, remove, sack (informal)

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. axe¹ (also ax American English) /æks/ noun [countable]

1. a tool with a heavy metal blade on the end of a long handle, used to cut down trees or split pieces of wood ⇒ pickaxe

2. the axe informal if someone gets the axe, they are dismissed from their job:
100 workers are facing the axe in a cost-cutting exercise.

3. the axe informal if a plan, system, or service gets the axe, someone gets rid of it:
MPs know there will be cuts in public spending but do not know on which department the axe will fall.

4. have an axe to grind to have a strong personal opinion about something which is the reason why you do something:
I need objective advice from someone with no axe to grind.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. axe² (also ax American English) verb [transitive]

1. to suddenly dismiss someone from their job:
There are plans to axe 2,600 staff.

2. to get rid of a plan, system, or service, especially in order to save money:
TV’s longest running show is to be axed.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

axe
noun
I. tool
VERB + AXE brandish, carry, hold, wield A man used to wielding an axe fought best on foot.
chop sth down/up with, use | swing | sharpen
AXE + VERB fall The executioner's axe fell.
PREP. with an/the ~ to chop a tree down with an axe
PHRASES a blow from/of an axe With a few swift blows of the axe, she severed the cable.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

axe
II. the axe: complete loss of sth/big reduction in sth
VERB + AXE swing, wield Wielding the axe on the prison plan would be one way of saving money.
face Up to 300 workers are facing the axe at a struggling Merseyside firm.
save sb/sth from Patients are delighted their local hospital has been saved from the axe.
AXE + VERB fall We were expecting bad news but had no idea where the axe would fall (= where the loss/reduction would be).

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲