English verb: give the axe | |||
1. | give the axe (social) terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position | ||
Samples | The boss fired his secretary today. The company terminated 25% of its workers. | ||
Synonyms | can, dismiss, displace, fire, force out, give notice, give the sack, sack, send away, terminate | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Somebody ----s PP. Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE | ||
Broader (hypernym) | remove | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | clean out, dismiss, drop, furlough, lay off, pension off, retire, send away, send packing, squeeze out | ||
Antonyms | hire, employ, engage | ||
2. | give the axe (change) terminate a relationship abruptly | ||
Samples | Mary gave John the axe after she saw him with another woman. | ||
Synonyms | give the bounce, give the gate | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | break, break up, part, separate, split, split up | ||