have an ax to grind

Cultural  

1. To have a selfish motive or personal stake in a matter: “When the lobbyist approached the senators, they suspected he had an ax to grind.”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

have an ax to grind

Others note that the presence of body-worn cameras has helped disprove frivolous claims filed by criminal suspects or others who have an ax to grind with the department.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

“I don’t have an ax to grind in this. I just feel like this is a story that could be told and should be told.”

From Washington Post ● Jun. 8, 2020

“Appelbaum does have an ax to grind, but unsheathes it only occasionally, usually to offer cutting one-sentence dismissals of particularly dubious claims by economists,” Justin Fox writes in his admiring review.

From New York Times ● Nov. 7, 2019

“It’s a disappointment, frankly, that he’s acting that way. I haven’t endorsed anybody. I don’t have an ax to grind in terms of that,” Cheney said.

From MSNBC ● Feb. 16, 2016

Then I have considered that perhaps her visits to Kato may be merely to get information—that she may have an ax to grind.

From The Treasure-Train by Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin) Reeve

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