take the/an ax to

take the/an ax to
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]

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Main Entry:ax

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • take the bull by the horns — {v. phr.}, {informal} To take definite action and not care about risks; act bravely in a difficulty. * /He decided to take the bull by the horns and demand a raise in salary even though it might cost him his job./ Compare: TAKE THE BIT IN ONE S… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take the bull by the horns — {v. phr.}, {informal} To take definite action and not care about risks; act bravely in a difficulty. * /He decided to take the bull by the horns and demand a raise in salary even though it might cost him his job./ Compare: TAKE THE BIT IN ONE S… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take the lid off — {v. phr.} 1. To let out in the open; divulge. * /It s about time to take the lid off the question of how many prisoners of war are still in enemy hands./ 2. To start to face an issue. * / The best way to deal with your divorce, the doctor said to …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take the lid off — {v. phr.} 1. To let out in the open; divulge. * /It s about time to take the lid off the question of how many prisoners of war are still in enemy hands./ 2. To start to face an issue. * / The best way to deal with your divorce, the doctor said to …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take the stand — {v. phr.} To assume one s position in the witness box during a trial. * /The judge asked the defendant to take the stand./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take the stand — {v. phr.} To assume one s position in the witness box during a trial. * /The judge asked the defendant to take the stand./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take the law into one's own hands — {v. phr.} To protect one s supposed rights or punish a suspected wrongdoer without reference to a court. An overused expression. * /When the men of the settlement caught the suspected murderer, they took the law into their own hands and hanged… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take the law into one's own hands — {v. phr.} To protect one s supposed rights or punish a suspected wrongdoer without reference to a court. An overused expression. * /When the men of the settlement caught the suspected murderer, they took the law into their own hands and hanged… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take the plunge — {v. phr.} To take a fatal or decisive step; venture. * /When I asked Don when he and Melissa were going to get married, he answered that they ll take the plunge in September./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take the plunge — {v. phr.} To take a fatal or decisive step; venture. * /When I asked Don when he and Melissa were going to get married, he answered that they ll take the plunge in September./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take the pledge — {v. phr.} To swear to give up drinking, smoking, or using drugs. * /Gary finally took the pledge and he has kept it thus far./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

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