Martha from Grand Rapids, Ohio, wonders about the phrase having an axe to grind. She notes it once meant literally sharpening blades, but today it suggests having a chip on your shoulder or a troubling issue to resolve. The first known use of the expression was in 1810, when Pennsylvania newspaper editor Charles Miner wrote about being tricked into turning a grindstone for a stranger. In his essay “Who’ll Turn Grindstone?” he extended the image to anyone with an ulterior motive, such as a seemingly friendly shopkeeper plying customers with brandy to sell more goods. Miner writes that when he sees such a person, he can’t help thinking “that man has an ax to grind.” Over time, the phrase’s meaning shifted from “having ulterior motives” to “having a personal grievance or complaint.” This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of ““Axe to Grind” Now Means a Personal Grievance, but It Used to Mean an Ulterior Motive”
Hello.
You have A Way with Words.
Hello.
Martha Berry, France.
I’m calling from Grand Rapids, Ohio.
It’s just a small community Southwest of Toledo, Ohio.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Definitely.
So what’s on your mind, Martha?
Well, I was curious about the phrase, having an axe to grind.
And I wondered, you know, obviously, a long time ago, there was a guy that went around and sharpened blades Mhmm.
Scissors, daggers, axes, etcetera.
And then and now it seems as though if you have an ax to grind, it’s kind of a negative thing.
Like, you’ve got a chip on your shoulder or, you know, you’re hepped up about something and you need some resolution.
So, I was curious about how it changed or what caused the change.
That’s very perceptive, Martha.
And my Martha, my radio Martha, she’s kind of really zeroed in on these two different meanings, hasn’t she?
Yes, indeed.
The meaning of this term has changed over time.
And as you said, today, to have an axe to grind means you have a grievance or a complaint, right?
Yes.
Well, Martha, the first known use of the expression to have an axe to grind appears in 1810.
That’s when a Pennsylvania newspaper editor named Charles Minor wrote about being flattered into doing the hard work of turning one of those heavy grindstones for a stranger to sharpen his axe.
And then he applied that image to people like politicians and merchants and other people who seem eager to help, but they really have something to gain.
They have some sort of ulterior motive.
And in this article he writes about how if he sees an overly friendly shopkeeper offering sips of brandy to his customers, he writes, Thinks I, that man has an axe to grind.
So originally, didn’t have the meaning that it has today, but over time, its meaning broadened.
And now we think of it, as you suggested.
You know, you have a grievance, you have a complaint, you have something that you got to talk to somebody about.
You’re not happy about something.
So it’s really undergone change in meaning.
Quite a bit, I’d say.
Yeah, yeah.
Yes.
Okay.
Well, thank you very much.
I really enjoy your program.
Martha, in Ohio, thank you so much for spending time with us.
We really appreciate it.
It’s been my pleasure.
Thank you both.
All right.
Bye bye.
Okay.
Take care.
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