to have a strong opinion or personal motive in a situation
example
Be careful when listening to his advice—he has an axe to grind and is just trying to push his own agenda.
word origin — From a Benjamin Franklin story (1810) — a clever man tricked a boy into sharpening an axe under a false pretext.
have an axe to grind, hit below the belt, let off steam, get down to brass tacks, jump the hurdles: meanings and examples
Learn these 5 idioms from Idioms set 47. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.
have an axe to grind · idiom/ən æks tu ɡraɪnd/
to have a strong opinion or personal motive in a situation
Be careful when listening to his advice—he has an axe to grind and is just trying to push his own agenda.
Origin: From a Benjamin Franklin story (1810) — a clever man tricked a boy into sharpening an axe under a false pretext.
hit below the belt · idiom/hɪt bɪˈloʊ ðə bɛlt/
to act unfairly or unethically in a conflict
Bringing up her personal life in the debate was really hitting below the belt.
Origin: From boxing — striking below an opponent's belt has been illegal since the rules of 1867 made it a foul.
let off steam · idiom/lɛt ɔf stim/
to release frustration or anger in a healthy way
He went for a run to let off steam after a stressful day.
Origin: From early steam engines — releasing built-up steam prevented dangerous explosions inside the boiler.
get down to brass tacks · idiom/ɡɛt daʊn tu bræs tæks/
to focus on the essential and most important details
Let’s get down to brass tacks and talk about the budget.
Origin: From American 1860s shops — brass tacks marked exact measurements on the counter for serious negotiations.
jump the hurdles · idiom/dʒʌmp ðə ˈhɜrdəlz/
to overcome obstacles or difficulties
You have to jump the hurdles if you want to succeed in this industry.
Origin: From British athletics — hurdle races require runners to jump over a series of obstacles to finish the race.