No axe to grind?_其他_趣味英语-查字典英语网

No axe to grind?

This frequently used idiom comes from a story by Charles Miner, published in 1811, about a boy who was flattered into turning the grindstone for a man sharpening his ax. He worked hard until the school bell rang, whereupon the man, instead of thanking the boy, began to scold him for being late and told him to hurry to school. “Having an ax to grind” then came into figurative use for having a personal motive for some action.

Got the point? The man scolded the child to avoid giving him a dime, or nickel or at least a “thank-ya” for his help.

Petty and mean and selfish. And quite frankly these are among the negative connotations associated with this idiom. When you use them, either have an axe or no ax to grind, make sure you use them on the right people.

The wrong people, I mean.

I mean, if they have an axe to grind, they’re probably in the wrong. And if you use the idiom on these people, you’re probably doing it right.

Alright, here are two real examples:

1. have no axe to grind:

THE LEADER of the group behind UEFA’s decision to shut Ibrox for Rangers’ next two European matches last night blasted claims of an orchestrated campaign against the SPL champions.

Fare chief Piara Powar dismissed suggestions of a witch-hunt as UEFA finally confessed their own delegate Geir Thorsteinsson had also shopped the sectarian singers in Holland last month.