1ax (US) or axe 
/ˈæks/ noun
plural ax·es /ˈæks/ noun [count] : a tool that has a heavy metal blade and a long handle and that is used for chopping wood — see also ice ax, pickax
ax to grind
: a hidden and often selfish purpose for doing something.
▪ He had a political ax to grind with his opponent. ▪ She claims that she has no ax to grind in criticizing the proposed law.
▪ He had a political ax to grind with his opponent. ▪ She claims that she has no ax to grind in criticizing the proposed law.
escape the ax
informal : to avoid being ended, eliminated, reduced, etc.
▪ The school program escaped the ax this year. [=the school program was not cut/eliminated this year]
▪ The school program escaped the ax this year. [=the school program was not cut/eliminated this year]
get the ax
informal : to lose your job : to be fired from your job
▪ The employees with less experience got the ax. [=were fired]
▪ The employees with less experience got the ax. [=were fired]
give (someone) the ax
informal : to dismiss (someone) from a job : to fire (someone)
▪ His boss gave him the ax.
▪ His boss gave him the ax.
take the/an ax to
informal : to eliminate (something) or reduce (something) severely
▪ Congress took an ax to the program. [=Congress made severe cuts in the program]
▪ Congress took an ax to the program. [=Congress made severe cuts in the program]
