swing the axe

Frequency: 5.83.9 per million words

To make large and severe financial cuts.

axeVERB + THE AXE (loss/reduction)

Categories:

swing

Examples (10)

  • The new government is preparing to swing the axe on public spending.
  • The company swung the axe last year, resulting in hundreds of job losses.
  • If profits don't improve, management will have no choice but to swing the axe.
  • Facing a massive deficit, the city council is currently swinging the axe on several community programs.
  • They brought in a new CEO specifically to swing the axe and restore profitability.
  • It was a painful decision, but they had to swing the axe to keep the business afloat.
  • Swinging the axe on the research budget might save money now but will hurt innovation later.
  • There are fears that the broadcaster will swing the axe on its less popular channels.
  • By the time the union intervened, the board had already swung the axe on employee benefits.
  • The new director came in and immediately swung the axe, cutting all non-essential projects.