meat ax: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal / Figurative
Quick answer
What does “meat ax” mean?
A large, heavy ax used for chopping meat or bones.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, heavy ax used for chopping meat or bones.
A metaphorical term for a severe, indiscriminate, and forceful reduction, particularly in budgets, staffing, or programs.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling varies: 'meat axe' (UK) vs. 'meat ax' (US). The metaphorical usage is more common in US English, especially in business/political contexts. The UK is more likely to use 'axe' metaphorically without the 'meat' qualifier.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes harsh, crude, and sweeping cuts. It is more vivid and informal than synonyms like 'downsizing' or 'reduction'.
Frequency
The metaphorical phrase is of low-to-medium frequency, primarily in journalism and business commentary. More frequent in US sources.
Grammar
How to Use “meat ax” in a Sentence
[Subject] + take a meat ax to + [Object (e.g., budget, department)][Subject] + swing the meat ax + [Prepositional Phrase (e.g., across the organization)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meat ax” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The council is threatening to meat-axe the entire arts programme.
- They meat-axed their way through the regulations.
American English
- The governor plans to meat-ax the education budget.
- The board meat-axed the R&D department without review.
adjective
British English
- It was a meat-axe approach to a delicate problem.
- He's known for his meat-axe management style.
American English
- The mayor's meat-ax budget proposal caused an uproar.
- We need strategy, not meat-ax solutions.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The new CEO took a meat ax to the middle management layer."
Academic
Rare; might appear in political science or sociology discussing policy.
Everyday
Very rare in literal sense; figurative use understood but not common in casual chat.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “meat ax”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “meat ax”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meat ax”
- Using it in a positive context (it is always negative/critical).
- Confusing it with 'hatchet', which is smaller and can imply a targeted, personal act (e.g., 'bury the hatchet', 'hatchet job').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Extremely rarely. It's primarily a historical term for a butcher's tool. The metaphorical sense dominates modern usage.
'Axe' alone is common for eliminating/cutting (e.g., 'the project got axed'). 'Meat ax' intensifies the image, emphasizing brutality, force, and lack of discrimination.
Yes, informally. E.g., 'They meat-axed the budget.' It's more common to use it in the noun phrase 'take a meat ax to.'
It is informal and figurative. It carries a critical, journalistic tone. In formal business or academic writing, more neutral terms like 'drastic cuts' or 'wholesale reductions' are preferred.
A large, heavy ax used for chopping meat or bones.
Meat ax: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmiːt æks/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmit æks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Take a meat ax to something”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a butcher CHOPPING meat without care. A 'meat ax' approach to a budget means CHOPPING costs without care for detail.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE IS BUTCHERY / FINANCIAL REDUCTION IS PHYSICAL CUTTING.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'meat ax' primarily convey in modern usage?