Meaning
To have a personal grievance, hidden agenda, or self-interested reason for taking a position. Often implies that the person’s apparent objectivity is compromised by an ulterior motive.
Origin
The phrase is commonly linked to a story by the American writer and politician Charles Miner, published in the early nineteenth century, in which a boy is persuaded to turn a grindstone so another person can sharpen an axe. The tale helped popularize the image of someone using another person for a private purpose.
Examples
I’d be cautious about his advice; he has an axe to grind.
She’s still angry about the promotion, so she may have an axe to grind.
The article sounds objective, but the writer clearly has an axe to grind.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'Have an axe to grind' mean?
To have a personal grievance, hidden agenda, or self-interested reason for taking a position. Often implies that the person’s apparent objectivity is compromised by an ulterior motive.