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axe to grind meaning in Hindi

idiomAsked 3× in SSC · latest SSC CPO 2025 T-1Idioms & Phrases
axe to grind idiom

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

  1. SSC MTS 2024 Idioms & Phrases

    Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
    An axe to grind

    Answer & 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।

  2. 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

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.

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