Table of Contents
- 1 What does the idiom an axe to grind mean?
- 2 What does the idiom have an axe mean?
- 3 What does the idiom full of beans mean?
- 4 What does I have a bone to pick with you mean?
- 5 What does Bob’s your uncle Fanny’s your aunt mean?
- 6 Why do they call it cut the cheese?
- 7 Where does the phrase’to have an axe to grind’come from?
- 8 Why do some reporters have an axe to grind?
What does the idiom an axe to grind mean?
A selfish aim or motive, as in The article criticized the new software, but the author had an ax to grind, as its manufacturer had fired his son. This frequently used idiom comes from a story by Charles Miner, published in 1811, about a boy who was flattered into turning the grindstone for a man sharpening his ax.
What does the idiom have an axe mean?
to have a strong personal opinion about something that you want people to accept and that is the reason why you do something: Environmentalists have no political axe to grind – they just want to save the planet. Continually thinking about.
What is the difference between Ax and axe?
The spellings ax and axe are both correct, but axe is more common, both in the US and elsewhere. While one might expect that ax is the spelling favored in the U.S., and axe the spelling favored elsewhere (as is the case with a number of spelling variants), the situation with ax and axe is different.
Can’t cut the mustard meaning?
(also can’t cut the mustard) to not be able to deal with problems or difficulties in a satisfactory way: If he can’t cut it, then we’ll get someone else to do the job.
What does the idiom full of beans mean?
informal. 1 : full of energy and life We were young and full of beans. 2 US : not correct or truthful : full of nonsense If that’s what he’s been saying, then he’s full of beans.
What does I have a bone to pick with you mean?
Having a “bone to pick with someone” means having a grievance that needs to be talked out: “I have a bone to pick with you, Wallace; I heard how you criticized me at the meeting last night.”
Why do Americans spell axe ax?
Ax and axe are different spellings of the same word. There is no difference in meaning or pronunciation.
Is it GREY or gray?
Gray and grey are both common spellings of the color between black and white. Gray is more frequent in American English, whereas grey is more common in British English. Of the two, gray occurs more frequently in American English, while grey has historically been the spelling preferred by British English publications.
What does Bob’s your uncle Fanny’s your aunt mean?
and there you are
The long version Bob’s your Uncle and Fanny’s your Aunt meaning “and there you are” or “it’s that easy!” or “(after that) it’s done!” or “(after that,) you have achieved what you wanted to achieve”.
Why do they call it cut the cheese?
This idiom references the foul smell emitted by some cheeses many of which have a rind that keep the odor in. Once the rind is pierced, as in the case of slicing it, the not so pleasant smell is released. This smell can be remarkably similar to one passing gas, depending on the cheese, and the person.
What is a poor man?
1 —used to refer to someone (such as a performer) who is like another person in some ways but not as talented or successful a young actor who is said to be the poor man’s James Dean.
What does zestful mean in English?
full of zest. characterized by keen relish, hearty enjoyment, etc.
Where does the phrase’to have an axe to grind’come from?
The phrase probably originates from the act of sharpening an axe with a grinding wheel, with the intent (in this definition) to get revenge on someone by maiming or killing them. 😉 “Five years ago that guy stole my idea for an invention and made tons of money off it! I’ve had an axe to grind with him ever since.
Why do some reporters have an axe to grind?
I think he is gunning for the top job because he has an axe to grind with some of his colleagues. Some new reports may be biased because the reporters have an axe to grind. What started as a casual discussion flared up into a heated debate because both of them had an axe to grind. They have been constantly arguing with each other.
Who was the first person to use the phrase who’ll turn grindstones?
Miner appears to have written a text called Who’ll turn Grindstones?, which does explicitly mention an axe to grind, but which is similar enough to Franklin’s earlier stories for some to suggest that Franklin was the real originator of the phrase.
When does the school bell ring do you have an axe to grind?
When the school bell rings, the man scolds the boy for being late and does not pay him. Therefore, the boy now has ‘an axe to grind’ with the man who owes him money. Go beyond correction.