an ax(e) hanging over (someone or something)
an ax(e) hanging over (someone or something)
1. The threat of being fired. There's definitely going to be an axe hanging over me if the boss finds out that printing error was my fault.
2. The threat of being destroyed or ended. I worry that there's an axe hanging over our initiative now that our funding's been slashed.
See also: hanging, over
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
an axe hanging over someone
If there is an axe hanging over someone, they are likely to lose their job soon. Note: `Axe' is spelled `ax' in American English. I wouldn't say there's an axe hanging over him but he's only got another season to put everything right.
See also: axe, hanging, over, someone
an axe hanging over something
If there is an axe hanging over something, that thing is likely to be destroyed or ended soon. Note: `Axe' is spelled `ax' in American English. The axe was hanging over 600 jobs at oil giant BP last night.
See also: axe, hanging, over, something
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
- an axe hanging over someone
- an axe hanging over something
- ax
- axe
- get axed
- get the boot
- give somebody/get the boot
- get the ax
- get the ax(e)
- get the axe