give the axe

verb

To fire (dismiss from employment).

Similar
axegive someone the bootsackdisplacefiregive noticecandismiss
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Meanings

verbgive the axe (third-person singular simple present gives the axe, present participle giving the axe, simple past gave the axe, past participle given the axe)

present singular third person gives the axe · participle present giving the axe · past gave the axe · participle past given the axe · alternative give the ax

  1. idiomaticinformalTo fire (dismiss from employment).

    Synonyms: axe, give someone the boot, sack

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo fire (dismiss from employment).

Similar
axegive someone the bootsack

More synonyms by meaning

verbterminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position

Similar
displacefiregive noticecandismisssend awaysackforce outgive the sackterminate
Broader
remove

verbterminate a relationship abruptly

Similar
give the bouncegive the gate
Broader
separatepartsplit up
Also see
axecandiscarddischargedismissdisplacedownsizefireforce outgive noticegive someone the heave-hogive the sacklay offlet gopink slipretrenchsacksend awayterminate

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

give the axe. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20the%20axe

MLA

“give the axe.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20the%20axe. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “give the axe,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20the%20axe.

Source: give the axe on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.