axe to grind

phrase

: an ulterior often selfish underlying purpose
claims that he has no axe to grind in criticizing the proposed law

Examples of axe to grind in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sorry, Baby’s Eva Victor plays Nadia, a cellist whom Alex romances while on a job in Dallas, while Olivia Wilde is Carol, Alex’s leopard-print-wearing ex with an axe to grind. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1810, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of axe to grind was in 1810

Rhymes for axe to grind

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Browse Nearby Words

axes of coordinates
axe to grind
ax-grinder
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Cite this Entry

“Axe to grind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/axe%20to%20grind. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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