escape the ax

phrase

informal
: to avoid being ended, eliminated, reduced, etc.
The school program escaped the ax this year and will continue as before.

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Cite this Entry

“Escape the ax.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/escape%20the%20ax. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.

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