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
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.
Business leaders and tech experts think AI has white-collar work on the chopping block. Jake Angelo, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026 In some cases, books that failed to lionize fallen Irish heroes were put on the chopping block. Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026 These roles are included in the 30,000 layoffs initially reported by Reuters in October, with 14,000 positions officially put on the chopping block at the time. Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 6 Feb. 2026 Fans of the black olive trees on Las Olas Boulevard put up an eleventh-hour fight to save them from the chopping block. Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 2 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chopping block

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chopping block was in 1600

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Cite this Entry

“Chopping block.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chopping%20block. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.

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