Phrase guide

take an axe to

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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verb

Meaning 1

To boldly demolish, delete, or discontinue (something).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

How much you wanna bet on whether they're hatching secret plans to take an axe to the entire Social Security system?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

verb

Meaning 2

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: to boldly and forcefully demolish, cut up, cut down, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

The firefighters were not messing around — they took an axe to the locked door.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Word forms

Inflections and variants

takes an axe to — present, singular, third-person
taking an axe to — participle, present
took an axe to — past
taken an axe to — participle, past

Word family

Derived and related words

Derived: none provided

Related: chainsaw consultant, chopping block, dead wood, deadwood, hatchet job, slash, take up the hatchet

Semantic map

Other relationships

Sources

Where this information comes from

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