" giving it the ax "

[Noun]  | "axe" | \ ˈaks \

1: a cutting tool that consists of a heavy edged head fixed to a handle with the edge parallel to the handle and that is used especially for felling trees and chopping and splitting wood

2: a hammer with a sharp edge for dressing or spalling stone

3: removal from office or release from employment : dismissal —usually used with the

Origin: before 12th century ;

 Middle English, from Old English æcs; akin to Old High German ackus ax, Latin ascia, Greek axinē;