ax to grind
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It has no ideological ax to grind, although it makes a persuasive case for the expansiveness of American poetry as a parallel to the definition of Americanness itself.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025
He didn’t come off as a man with an ax to grind, but a small, petty individual who had been taken advantage of by a much more powerful man he all but worshipped.
From Slate • May 14, 2024
The prosecutors pushed back that Yeartie was a disgruntled former employee with an ax to grind against Willis.
From Salon • Feb. 16, 2024
"I think if anything this event has been hyped up and Powell will have much less of an ax to grind compared to last year," said Chris Murphy, Susquehanna Financial Group co-head of derivative strategy.
From Reuters • Aug. 24, 2023
At the bottom of every case of criticism and obstruction we have found some selfish interest, some private ax to grind.
From The Fireside Chats of Franklin Delano Roosevelt by Roosevelt, Franklin Delano
