to give the axe
- idiom
- UK
:
despedir
- After years of service, she was shocked when they gave the axe to her without warning.
Examples
-
Rumors are spreading that the manager will give the axe to anyone who misses another deadline.
-
The company had to give the axe to several employees during the merger.
-
The company gave the axe to several employees last month.
-
Why did they give the axe to Mark?
-
After years of loyal service, the company had to give the axe to several employees to cut costs.
-
When the merger was announced, the CEO decided to give the axe to the entire management team.
-
She was shocked when her boss told her that they would give the axe to her position next month.
Synonyms
∞
2.8
To officially make someone leave their job
852
3.8
To stop employing someone so they lose their job
501
5.1
To end a romantic relationship suddenly and without care
417
3.4
To end a romantic relationship with someone
236
3.0
To force someone to leave a place, job, or group
90
5.5
To make someone stop working for a company
80
6.2
To remove someone from power, often suddenly or by force
70
3.3
To remove someone from their job
46
4.4
To make someone leave a job by pressure or threats
43
3.0
Make someone leave a job or group because of a problem
37
3.5
To make someone leave their job
33
7.7
To fire someone from their job in informal speech
23
4.1
End a relationship with someone or something in a clear, final way
15
5.8
Force someone to leave a job or organization suddenly
12
9.4
Suddenly stop seeing or talking to someone
12
7.4
To stop someone from working at their job, usually because of bad work or behavior
8
6.5
To make someone leave quickly to show they are not wanted
7
8.6
Get rid of someone or something you no longer want
4
8.5
To tell someone to leave their job or to stop using something
4
7.9
Make someone leave quickly and forcefully
2
4.8
Lose your job because your employer fires you
1
4.0
To force someone to leave a place, group or job
1
8.6
Lose your job, often suddenly
1
8.9
To lose a job suddenly because of a mistake or problem
1
5.2
To make someone leave their job, often as punishment or during job cuts
1
5.0
To force someone to leave a place usually because they cause trouble
End someone's job or relationship suddenly and without warning
To end a relationship or job suddenly and harshly
To end a relationship or stop someone from working for you
To tell someone they must leave their job
To stop employing someone, often suddenly as punishment
To tell someone they have lost their job or show the truth about their situation
To end a relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend
Antonyms
How Severe
- UK
- Formal
289
4.2
37
5.6
- Informal
1
7.9
- Formal
33
6.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
give + the + axe
The expression uses a metaphorical extension of 'axe' (cutting/ending) applied to a person or job, so there is a recognisable semantic link to termination. However, the specific sense 'to dismiss someone' is idiomatic enough that an average B1 learner who only knows 'give' and 'axe' would likely not reliably infer that meaning without prior exposure, making it partially but not fully transparent.
Etymology
Give the axe may come from the simple picture of using an axe to chop something away, like cutting a branch or a piece of wood. So to give the axe to someone is like cutting them off from the job, which is why it means 'to dismiss someone'.