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Question

Difficulty: MediumIdioms and Idiomatic Expressions

During the parliamentary committee hearing on the failed urban renewal project, the lead auditor remarked that the former commissioner clearly had an axe to grind. Which of the following best expresses the meaning of the underlined idiomatic expression as used in the sentence?

  1. possessed a personal or private motive for taking a specific positionAnswer
  2. B
    needed a sharp mechanical tool to clear structural debris from the site
  3. C
    maintained complete impartiality and disinterested objective neutrality
  4. D
    intended to issue immediate dismissal notices to the project supervisors

Answer

The expression means possessing a personal or private motive for taking a specific position.
The idiomatic expression 'to have an axe to grind' means to have a private motive, ulterior reason, or personal grievance that influences one's actions or opinions. In the given context, it signifies that the former commissioner had a personal interest shaping his involvement with the project.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the underlined idiomatic expression within the sentence context.
The expression identified is 'an axe to grind'.
Determining the exact figurative phrase is essential for establishing its contextual meaning.
2
Analyze the figurative sense of the idiom 'to have an axe to grind'.
The phrase figuratively denotes having a secret or personal motive, dispute, or opinion to promote.
Idiomatic expressions cannot be understood by combining the literal definitions of individual words.
3
Match the established figurative meaning with the correct option while eliminating literal and illogical distractors.
The option describing a personal or private motive is the only correct interpretation.
The other options either interpret the words literally, invert the meaning to imply impartiality, or make unwarranted assumptions.

Key Concept

Figurative meaning of idioms in context
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Topics

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

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