ax
ax — noun
1. A hand tool built from a heavy metal cutting head fitted onto a long handle, use
A hand tool built from a heavy metal cutting head fitted onto a long handle, used for splitting logs and chopping down trees.
Feng used an ax to chop the fallen tree into pieces for firewood.
collocation: chop wood / split logs with an ax
The old iron ax was too blunt to split the wooden logs in half.
Ramón carried a sharp camping ax with him on his trip into the forest.
Niran bought a new ax at the hardware store for his garden work.
The lumberjack swung the heavy ax and split the oak trunk in two.
- hatchet
a smaller version of an ax, used with one hand
- axe (British spelling)
same tool; 'axe' is the standard spelling in British English
2. A situation where a person is told to leave their job, usually because their emp
A situation where a person is told to leave their job, usually because their employer no longer needs them or is reducing the number of workers.
After the company lost money, fifty factory workers got the ax.
informal expression: get the ax = be fired
Kwame was worried he might get the ax when the new manager took charge.
The whole marketing team got the ax after the budget was cut.
When the factory shut down, two hundred employees got the ax.
Yan heard that her department would get the ax next month.
- be hired
the opposite process of getting a job
- be promoted
moving to a better position instead of losing one
用法筆記
Almost always used in the phrase 'get the ax' or 'give someone the ax.' Not used in formal contexts; use 'be laid off' or 'be dismissed' instead.
常見錯誤
3. The sudden stopping, removal, or large reduction of a service, project, or plann
The sudden stopping, removal, or large reduction of a service, project, or planned activity, usually because of a lack of money or a change in priorities.
The school's music program got the ax because of the budget cuts.
expression: [program/service] + got the ax
City officials gave the new bridge project the ax after the cost report.
The training course for new staff got the ax before it even started.
Anjali was upset when the after-school club got the ax from the principal.
The proposed rail line got the ax when the government changed its policies.
- launch
starting a new service or project
- funding approved
when money is given rather than removed
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (GETTING FIRED). Sense 3 applies to things (services, plans, budgets), not to people. Sense 2 applies only to people losing their jobs.
4. In casual music speech, 'ax' means the instrument a performer uses in a show, ty
In casual music speech, 'ax' means the instrument a performer uses in a show, typically a stringed electric instrument or a brass wind instrument commonly heard in jazz.
The guitarist pulled out his ax and played a long blues solo.
slang: ax = electric guitar
Eitan saved money for months to buy a vintage ax from the music shop.
The young musician tuned her ax and began to play a loud rock song.
On stage, Élise held her electric ax high above her head.
Nice ax! the singer said, looking at Christopher's new guitar.
- electric guitar
the standard term; 'ax' is a slang substitute
- saxophone
also referred to as an 'ax' in jazz slang
用法筆記
This sense is very informal and is mostly used by musicians or people who follow music closely. It is less common in everyday speech.
ax — abbreviation
1. A short written form of the word 'axiom,' used in mathematics and logic to refer
A short written form of the word 'axiom,' used in mathematics and logic to refer to a statement that is accepted as true without proof.
The teacher wrote ax. on the board as short for axiom in the geometry lesson.
abbreviation: ax. = axiom
In the textbook, each new ax. appeared in a bold box at the start of the chapter.
The professor listed each ax. on the handout and asked the class to memorize them.
Students used the abbreviation ax. when taking notes during the logic lecture.
用法筆記
Usually written with a period in formal writing: 'ax.' Not common in everyday language.
2. A short written form of the word 'axis,' used in mathematics to refer to the ref
A short written form of the word 'axis,' used in mathematics to refer to the reference line in a coordinate system or graph.
The graph shows the x-ax. on the bottom and the y-ax. on the left side.
abbreviation: x-ax. = x-axis, y-ax. = y-axis
Students labeled the horizontal ax. with years from 2010 to 2020.
The vertical ax. on the chart showed the temperature in degrees.
Nikhil drew a dotted line through the center of the circle as the ax.
用法筆記
Usually written with a period in formal writing: 'ax.' Not common in everyday language.