Meaning: A personal reason for doing or being interested in something, often selfish
Hindi: स्वार्थ या निजी उद्देश्य
Synonyms: ulterior motive, hidden agenda
Asked in: SSC CPO 2025 T-1 · SSC MTS 2024 · SSC GD 2022 T-1
axe to grind in SSC previous-year questions
- SSC MTS 2024 Idioms & Phrases
Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
An axe to grindAnswer & explanation
Answer: B) To have a selfish reason that influences the actions
Answer: To have a selfish reason that influences the actions
Explanation:
The idiom "an axe to grind" means to have a personal or selfish motive behind one’s actions or opinions, especially one that is hidden – कोई छिपा हुआ स्वार्थ।
Let’s examine the options:
• Bitterly hostile – अत्यधिक शत्रुतापूर्ण → ❌ Incorrect
• To have a selfish reason that influences the actions – स्वार्थपूर्ण कारण होना → ✅ Correct
• To make a supreme effort – बहुत बड़ा प्रयास करना → ❌ Not related
• To tackle a problem in a bold and direct fashion – बहादुरी से किसी समस्या को सुलझाना → ❌ Unrelated
So, "an axe to grind" means having a selfish motive – कोई स्वार्थ जो किसी के कार्यों को प्रभावित करता है। - SSC CPO 2025 T-1 Idioms & Phrases
Choose the correct idiom for the word highlighted in bold.
Rohit is very calculative and always has an axe to grind.Answer & explanation
Answer: A) To have a hidden personal motive
Correct Answer: Option 1 — To have a hidden personal motive
'To have an axe to grind' means to have a private, often selfish reason for doing something; a hidden personal agenda or motive behind one's actions.
In the sentence, Rohit being 'very calculative' and 'always having an axe to grind' suggests he always has a hidden personal motive behind what he does.
Why others are wrong:
Option 2 (To sharpen one's skills): Literal interpretation of the words — not the idiomatic meaning.
Option 3 (To work hard for success): Unrelated to the idiom's meaning of having a hidden agenda.
Option 4 (To take revenge): While sometimes close in connotation, revenge is not always the specific meaning — the id
Examples
- “He has an axe to grind, which is why he criticizes the policy so much.”
axe to grind – questions
What is the meaning of axe to grind in Hindi?
axe to grind means “स्वार्थ या निजी उद्देश्य” in Hindi. In English: A personal reason for doing or being interested in something, often selfish
What are the synonyms of axe to grind?
Synonyms of axe to grind: ulterior motive, hidden agenda.
Has axe to grind been asked in SSC exams?
Yes – axe to grind has been asked 3 times in SSC exams: SSC CPO 2025 T-1, SSC MTS 2024, SSC GD 2022 T-1.