Ax to Grind

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Ax to Grind

Origin of Phrases - A

 

Ax to Grind

An old Benjamin Franklin story tells the tale of how a young Franklin was approached by a fellow who stopped to admire the family grindstone. Asking to be shown how it worked, the stranger offered young Ben an ax with which to demonstrate. Once his ax was sharp, the fellow walked off, laughing. Thus anyone with a hidden motive has an ax to grind.