Meaning: To have a personal, often selfish reason for doing something
Hindi: स्वार्थ साधना
Synonyms: have a hidden agenda, have ulterior motive, have a personal interest
Asked in: SSC Steno 2026 T-1 · SSC CPO 2022 T-1 · SSC CGL 2020 T-2
have an axe to grind in SSC previous-year questions
- SSC Steno 2026 T-1 Idioms & Phrases
Choose the alternative which gives the correct meaning of the given idiom or phrase.
To have an axe to grindAnswer & explanation
Answer: D) To have a hidden motive or grievance
Meaning: to have an axe to grind = to have a private, selfish motive or a grudge behind what one says or does *(स्वार्थ छिपा होना, निजी मक़सद या शिकायत होना)*.
*He keeps praising the new policy, but he has an axe to grind — his own firm gets the contract.*
Origin.
An American tale in which a stranger flattered a boy into turning the grindstone for him, then walked off with his sharpened axe.
The flattery hid a selfish purpose — that is the sense the idiom keeps.
Why the others are wrong.
• To work hard at a manual trade *(शारीरिक श्रम का काम करना)* — takes the axe literally; the idiom for hard labour is *to work one's fingers to the bone*.
• To have a strong weapon for defence in war *(युद्ध - SSC CGL 2020 T-2 Idioms & Phrases
Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
To have an axe to grindAnswer & explanation
Answer: D) To have a selfish motive in doing something
✅ Correct Answer: Option D (To have a selfish motive in doing something)
Type: Idiom
"To have an axe to grind" = to have a private/selfish motive (स्वार्थ छिपा होना).
Why the others are wrong
• Task / access / means of subsistence – not the meaning. - SSC CPO 2022 T-1 Idioms & Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the underlined idiom in the given sentence.
Saira is unable to sustain friendships because she always has too many axes to grind.Answer & explanation
Answer: C) To have one’s own interests to serve
Answer: 3 – To have one’s own interests to serve
Solution (Correct Option – 3: To have one’s own interests to serve):
The idiom “to have an axe to grind” or “too many axes to grind” means that a person has personal, selfish motives or hidden agendas behind their actions.
In the sentence:
"Saira is unable to sustain friendships because she always has too many axes to grind,"
it implies that she is always acting in ways that serve her own interests, which negatively affects her relationships.
To have an axe to grind – कोई स्वार्थ या निजी मकसद होना
Why other options are incorrect:
To believe in selflessness – Opposite in meaning
To work for others – Suggests altruism, not selfish motives
To use - SSC CPO 2022 T-1 Idioms & Phrases
Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.
It is never advisable to have an axe to ________.Answer & explanation
Answer: D) grind
Answer: 4
Solution (Correct Option – 4: grind):
The correct idiom is “to have an axe to grind”, which means to have a selfish or ulterior motive, or a hidden personal reason for doing something (कोई छिपा स्वार्थ होना).
Complete sentence:
“It is never advisable to have an axe to grind.”
→ Meaning: One should not act with a hidden selfish motive.
Why other options are incorrect:
• Kill – Not idiomatic or meaningful here.
• Rotate – Makes no sense with the phrase.
• Replace – Irrelevant in the idiomatic context.
Difficult Word Meaning:
Axe to grind – A personal motive or grievance, often hidden (छिपा हुआ स्वार्थ या उद्देश्य)
Examples
- “The critic has an axe to grind against the new policy.”
have an axe to grind – questions
What is the meaning of have an axe to grind in Hindi?
have an axe to grind means “स्वार्थ साधना” in Hindi. In English: To have a personal, often selfish reason for doing something
What are the synonyms of have an axe to grind?
Synonyms of have an axe to grind: have a hidden agenda, have ulterior motive, have a personal interest.
Has have an axe to grind been asked in SSC exams?
Yes – have an axe to grind has been asked 4 times in SSC exams: SSC Steno 2026 T-1, SSC CPO 2022 T-1, SSC CGL 2020 T-2.