chopping block

noun

1

: a wooden block on which material (such as meat, wood, or vegetables) is cut, split, or diced

2

: a situation in which someone or something is threatened with elimination

government programs on the chopping block

Examples of chopping block in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Now, with Biden out of the picture, the southern state that gave him his first primary victory in 2020 is on the chopping block as Democrats look for a do-over. —Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 29 May 2026

The Chicago Sun-Times estimated more than 700 teachers could be on the chopping block. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026

Anything that didn’t serve these purposes may end up on the chopping block. —Claire Zillman, Fortune, 27 May 2026

Historically, when enterprise IT budgets tightened, organizational change management (OCM) was the first line item on the chopping block. —Peter Fitzgibbon, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for chopping block

• aftershock
• antiknock
• arawak
• hollyhock
• interlock
• manioc
• shuttlecock
• tomahawk
• weathercock
• alcock
• beanstalk
• bedrock