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

I don’t have an ax to grind with the way the movie business works.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2022

“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

“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

He didn’t have an ax to grind with anyone, his sister Mary said recently.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 10, 2015

If I have an ax to grind, so has the other fellow.

From A Son of the Immortals by Christy, Howard Chandler