etymology - Origin of "to have an axe to grind"


Where does the idiom to have an axe to grind come from? To have personal, selfish reasons to do or say something.



Answer



The Urban Dictionary explains it thus:


http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=axe%20to%20grind&defid=2289234



Axe to Grind


To have a grievance with someone, especially where one feels the need to seek damaging retribution.



The phrase probably originates from the act of sharpening an axe with a grinding wheel, with the intent (in this definition) to get revenge on someone by maiming or killing them. ;) "Five years ago that guy stole my idea for an invention and made tons of money off it! I've had an axe to grind with him ever since. My latest invention will put him out of business for sure, you'll see! Muwahahahaha!!"


Edit 26/7/15. Following a comment from @Hot Licks, I checked the OED, which does confirm the idea that having an axe to grind, means having a hidden agenda. There is no suggestion of it being the result of a grievance. However, my personal impression from the way the term is used in Britain is that the Urban Dictionary is right when it says that it frequently suggests the satisfaction of a grievance.


OED



P2. to have axes to grind (orig. U.S. Polit.): to have private ends to serve [in reference to a story told by Franklin] ; now more commonly to have an axe to grind .



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