meataxe: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, figurative use is common in business/media contexts; literal use is technical/occupational.
Quick answer
What does “meataxe” mean?
A large, heavy axe used for chopping meat and bones, particularly in butchery.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, heavy axe used for chopping meat and bones, particularly in butchery.
A severe, drastic, and indiscriminate method of cutting costs or reducing staff, especially in a business or organization, without regard for finer details.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term similarly. Spelling is typically solid ('meataxe') in UK and sometimes hyphenated ('meat-axe') in US, though variation exists.
Connotations
Equally negative in both when used metaphorically, implying brutality and lack of sophistication.
Frequency
Slightly more common in UK business journalism, but well-understood in US. The literal tool is equally rare in everyday talk.
Grammar
How to Use “meataxe” in a Sentence
[Subject] + take a meataxe to + [Object (budget/department)][Subject] + wield the meataxe[Subject] + apply the meataxeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meataxe” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The board decided to meataxe the entire research division.
- They're threatening to meataxe funding for the arts.
American English
- Management is preparing to meat-axe hundreds of positions.
- The budget was meat-axed by the oversight committee.
adverb
British English
- The company cut costs meataxe-style, without proper analysis.
- They reduced staff meataxe-quick.
American English
- The department was slashed meat-axe fast.
- They operated meat-axe brutally to meet targets.
adjective
British English
- It was a meataxe solution to a delicate problem.
- He's known for his meataxe management style.
American English
- They avoided a meat-axe approach to the restructuring.
- The report criticized the meat-axe cuts to social programs.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common in reports about restructuring, layoffs, or budget cuts. 'The new CEO took a meataxe to middle management.'
Academic
Rare, except perhaps in sociological/economic critiques of capitalism or management studies.
Everyday
Understood but not frequent; used when discussing news about job cuts or severe budget reductions.
Technical
Literal use in butchery, historical tools, or survival contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “meataxe”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “meataxe”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meataxe”
- Using 'meataxe' to describe precise, careful cuts (incorrect). Confusing it with 'hatchet', which is smaller and can imply a personal, targeted attack (e.g., 'bury the hatchet').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both 'meataxe' (solid) and 'meat-axe' (hyphenated) are accepted. British English tends to prefer the solid form, while American English shows more variation, sometimes using the hyphen.
Yes, especially in informal business/journalistic contexts (e.g., 'They meataxed the budget'). It is a denominal verb from the metaphorical noun.
A 'meataxe' implies broad, sweeping, brutal cuts to things like budgets or staff. A 'hatchet job' is a fierce, malicious verbal attack or critique designed to destroy a person's reputation.
In professional butchery in some regions, yes, for splitting carcasses and large bones. It is not a common household tool and is mostly associated with specialized or historical contexts.
A large, heavy axe used for chopping meat and bones, particularly in butchery.
Meataxe is usually informal, figurative use is common in business/media contexts; literal use is technical/occupational. in register.
Meataxe: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmiːtæks/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmitˌæks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Take a meataxe to something”
- “Wield the meataxe”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a manager in a suit brutally chopping a budget spreadsheet in half with a large, bloody axe meant for meat. The image connects the tool to harsh, undiscriminating action.
Conceptual Metaphor
FINANCIAL CUTTING IS BUTCHERY / ORGANIZATIONAL RESTRUCTURING IS BRUTAL PHYSICAL DISMEMBERMENT.
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what does 'taking a meataxe to' something imply?