Question

Which is the best explanation of the idiomatic expression "an axe to grind"?

A. Someone who stands out

B. Anything irritating

C. A problem to resolve

D. A faulty instrument

Answer 1

The meaning of have an axe to grind is:
The definition of have an axe to grind is:

(idiom) to have a problem with something or someoneExample Sentences:I have an axe to grind with my roommate because she’s always borrowing my clothes without asking!The student had an axe to grind with his teacher, because he received a low mark on his presentation.

Answer 2

The correct answer is option letter C (a problem to resolve). By definition, to have an axe to grind is to have a complaint or dispute that one feels compelled to discuss. For instance, “I think the boss has a bit of an axe to grind with the employees over the way the account was handled”. Here the phrase means that the boss has a problem to work out with the employees. It is difficult to trace the origin of the phrase, but it is commonly attributed to Benjamin Franklin; however, other opinions point to another author who also lived in Pennsylvania, USA.