hack saw
- noun
- /ˈhæk sɔː/
- To finish the project, he decided to use a hack saw for the final cuts.
Examples
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We can try the hack saw.
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The carpenter used a hack saw to cut the metal pipe precisely.
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He got himself a hack saw.
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With a hack saw in hand, she carefully cut through the thick piece of metal.
Synonyms
A tool used to cut materials like glass or dough
A tool with a thin toothed blade used to cut wood or other materials
A small hand tool with a thin blade and small teeth in a frame for cutting metal
A tool like a knife or scissors that cuts materials
A tool you hold in one hand for cutting metal like pipes
How Fine-Toothed
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun is transparently built from 'hack' (to cut/chop) + 'saw' (cutting tool), so a learner who knows both words will infer it is a type of saw used for cutting. The compound follows a regular modifier+head pattern and is compositional; learners might not infer the exact technical details (fine-toothed/metal use) but will understand the basic meaning.
Etymology
Hack saw comes from the word hack, which meant 'to cut with short strokes', plus saw. That's why the name Hack saw means 'a hand saw for cutting metal'.