ax
gb/ˈæks/ us/ˈæks/
B1
English
fejsze, elkaszál, megszüntet, kirúg, gitár, hangszer, megkérdez
NOUN
B1
1
fejsze
B1
Usage pattern:
an ax; a [type] ax; with an ax
He grabbed an ax and started splitting the logs.
Felkapott egy fejszét, és elkezdte hasogatni a rönköket.
The camping store sells axes, saws, and other tools.
A túra- és kempingboltban fejszéket, fűrészeket és más szerszámokat árulnak.
The old ax needed sharpening before it would bite into the wood.
Learner examples
I cut wood with an ax.
Fejszével vágok fát.
The ax is sharp.
A fejsze éles.
Common mistake:
In British English the usual spelling is axe; both refer to the same tool.
Meaning
tool for chopping wood
Collocations
swing an ax
|sharpen an ax
|an ax handle
|a woodcutting ax
|chop wood with an ax
|split logs with an ax
|a sharp ax
|a dull ax
|an ax blade
|carry an ax
Synonyms
axe (More common spelling in British English.)
|
hatchet (A smaller, lighter kind of axe.)
Themes
tools
|outdoors
|home_improvement
Definition
A tool used to chop wood.
A tool with a heavy metal blade on a handle, used for chopping wood or cutting down trees.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
2
elkaszál
B2
megszüntet
B2
Usage pattern:
ax [something]
The company axed the new app after poor test results.
A cég a gyenge teszteredmények miatt elkaszálta az új alkalmazást.
The studio axed the project to save money.
A stúdió elkaszálta a projektet, hogy pénzt spóroljon.
They axed several features before launch.
Learner examples
They axed the plan.
Elkaszálták a tervet.
The show was axed.
A műsort elkaszálták.
Common mistake:
Often used for plans, projects, budgets, or features; it sounds more informal than cut or cancel.
Meaning
cancel or remove something
Collocations
ax a project
|ax a program
|ax a plan
|ax a feature
|ax funding
|ax a budget
|ax a proposal
|ax a department
|ax a route
|ax a policy
Synonyms
cut (More general and neutral; can be less sudden.)
|
cancel (Common for events or plans; less about cost-cutting.)
|
scrap (Emphasizes abandoning an idea or plan completely.)
Antonyms
keep (Not removing or stopping something.)
|
retain (More formal than keep.)
Themes
business
|media
|work
Definition
To decide to stop something or remove it.
To stop, cancel, or remove something, especially suddenly or as a cost-cutting or simplifying decision.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
3
kirúg
B1
Usage pattern:
ax [someone]; get axed
He was axed after the company lost a major client.
Kirúgták, miután a cég elveszített egy jelentős ügyfelet.
They axed three people from the sales team.
Három embert rúgtak ki az értékesítési csapatból.
If the numbers don’t improve, more staff could get axed.
Learner examples
He got axed from his job.
Kirúgták az állásából.
Common mistake:
In formal writing, prefer dismiss or terminate; ax is informal.
Meaning
fire someone from a job
Collocations
ax an employee
|ax a manager
|ax staff
|ax workers
|get axed
|axed from the team
|axed without warning
|axed after a merger
|axed for poor performance
|axed during layoffs
Synonyms
fire (Most common neutral verb in American English.)
|
dismiss (More formal; often used in writing.)
|
sack (More common in British English.)
Antonyms
hire (To give someone a job.)
|
retain (To keep someone employed.)
Themes
work
|business
Definition
To make someone lose their job.
To dismiss someone from a job; to fire someone.
NOUN
C1
SLANG
4
Usage pattern:
play [someone's] ax; bring [someone's] ax
He showed up with his ax and joined the jam session.
Megjelent a gitárjával, és beszállt az örömzenélésbe.
She bought a new ax for the tour.
Vett egy új gitárt a turnéra.
The guitarist switched axes between songs.
Common mistake:
This is slang; in general conversation, say guitar or instrument.
Meaning
a guitar or instrument
Collocations
play the ax
|bring your ax
|a jazz ax
|his trusty ax
|a new ax
|plug in the ax
|tune the ax
|my ax
|lead ax
|rhythm ax
Synonyms
guitar (Standard word; most common meaning in this slang use.)
|
instrument (Broader and less specific.)
Themes
music
|entertainment
Definition
A guitar (musician slang).
A musical instrument, especially a guitar (and sometimes a saxophone), referred to in musician slang.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
5
megkérdez
A2
Usage pattern:
ax [someone] [something]; ax if/whether
He axed if you were coming later.
Megkérdezte, hogy később jössz-e.
She axed me where the meeting was.
Megkérdezte tőlem, hol van a megbeszélés.
I’m gonna ax around and see what happened.
Common mistake:
In standard writing, use ask; ax in this sense can be seen as nonstandard or dialectal.
Meaning
dialect form of ask
Collocations
ax a question
|ax someone
|ax if
|ax whether
|ax for help
|ax around
|ax him
|ax her
|ax them
|ax about it
Synonyms
ask (Standard form in general English.)
|
inquire (More formal than ask.)
Themes
communication
|dialect
Definition
To ask (dialect).
To ask (used in some dialects and represented in informal writing).
Grammar
Dictionary form
ax
IPA
GB/ˈæks/
US/ˈæks/
Syllables & stress
ax (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (ax)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: ax
- Plural: axes
Verb
- Base: ax
- 3rd Person Singular: axes
- Present Participle: axing
- Past: axed
Word family
Expressions
an ax to grind
1/ən ˈæks tə ɡɹˈaɪnd/
idiom
a hidden selfish motive
A private reason that makes you biased.
Examples
- He claims it’s about safety, but I think he has an ax to grind.
- Be careful with that review—she may have an ax to grind with the company.
- I don’t have an ax to grind; I just want the facts.
ax out
1/ˈæks ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
informal
remove something completely
To remove something.
Examples
- They axed out the last section because it was too long.
- We may need to ax out a few items from the schedule.
- The director axed out several scenes before the final cut.
ax the fat
1/ˈæks ðə fˈæt/
idiom
informal
cut unnecessary costs or parts
To cut unnecessary things to save money or time.
Examples
- The new CEO promised to ax the fat and focus on core products.
- They axed the fat from the budget by renegotiating contracts.
- We need to ax the fat from this process—it’s wasting time.
get the ax
1/ɡˈɛt ðə ˈæks/
idiom
informal
be fired from a job
To lose your job because you are fired.
Examples
- If sales don’t improve, a lot of people could get the ax.
- After the merger, several managers got the ax.
- He worried he’d get the ax after missing the deadline.
Learner examples
- He got the ax.
give someone the ax
1/ɡˈɪv sˈʌmwˌʌn ðə ˈæks/
idiom
informal
fire someone from a job
To fire someone.
Examples
- The company gave him the ax after repeated complaints.
- They gave several contractors the ax to cut costs.
- The coach gave the ax to two assistants mid-season.
Learner examples
- They gave him the ax.
take an ax to
1/tˈeɪk ən ˈæks tə/
fixed phrase
informal
damage or cut drastically
To cut or damage something a lot.
Examples
- They took an ax to the budget and eliminated several programs.
- Someone took an ax to the front door during the break-in.
- The editor took an ax to the article and cut two pages.