ax to grind

English

Alternative forms

• axe to grind

Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

Noun

ax to grind (plural axes to grind)

1. (American spelling) A proposition or point of view to advocate, especially motivated by self-interest.
   • 1966 March, Thomas Pynchon, chapter 4, in The Crying of Lot 49, New York, N.Y.: Bantam Books, published November 1976, →ISBN, page 61:

     “See,” Koteks said, “if you can get them to drop their clause on patents. That, lady, is my ax to grind.”

   • 1976 July 8, New Scientist, volume 71, number 1008, page 77:

     The design has had a rather contentious journey through the various technical committees set up by the EEC to study the problem; individual member nations with particular axes to grind holding up the proceedings at regular intervals.

Translations

proposition or point of view

• Dutch: een appeltje te schillen
• Finnish: intressi (fi)
• French: intention cachée, intentions cachées
• Irish: tochrais ar do cheirtlín féin (literally “to wind one's own ball of string”) (to have an ax to grind)
• Italian: interesse personale m, carta da giocare f, rimprovero (it) m

Etymology 2

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

Noun

ax to grind (plural axes to grind)

1. (American spelling) A grudge or grievance, with implications of confrontation.
   • 2019 February 27, David Seidenberg, “A Tikkun for Tikkun Olam? How ‘To Heal the World?’ Corrupts Debate & Endangers Judaism”, in Jewish Journal‎^[1]:

     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 and openness you need for real research if you have such a big ax to grind.

Derived terms

• have an ax to grind

See also

• bone to pick