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auburn ADJECTIVE = reddish-brown, tawny, russet, henna, rust-coloured, copper-coloured, chestnut-coloured, Titian red, nutbrownaudacious ADJECTIVE 1 an audacious plan to win the presidency = daring, enterprising, brave, bold, risky, rash, adventurous, reckless, courageous, fearless, intrepid, valiant, daredevil, death-defying, dauntless, venturesome ◼ OPPOSITE: timid 2 Audacious thieves stole her car from under her nose. = cheeky, presumptuous, impertinent, insolent, impudent, forward, fresh (informal), assuming, rude, defiant, brazen, in-your-face (slang), shameless, sassy (informal), pert, disrespectful ◼ OPPOSITE: tactfulaudacity NOUN 1 I was shocked at the audacity of the gangsters. = daring, nerve, courage, guts (informal), bravery, boldness, recklessness, face (informal), front, enterprise, valour, fearlessness, rashness, adventurousness, intrepidity, audaciousness, dauntlessness, venturesomeness 2 He had the audacity to look at his watch while I was talking. = cheek (informal), nerve (informal), defiance, gall (informal), presumption, rudeness, chutzpah (U.S. & Canad. informal), insolence, impertinence, neck (informal), impudence, effrontery, brass neck (Brit. informal), shamelessness, sassiness (informal), forwardness, pertness, audaciousness, disrespectfulnessaudible ADJECTIVE = clear, distinct, discernible, detectable, perceptible, hearable ◼ OPPOSITE: inaudibleaudience NOUN 1 The entire audience broke into loud applause. = spectators, company, house, crowd, gathering, gallery, assembly, viewers, listeners, patrons, congregation, turnout, onlookers, throng, assemblage 2 She began to find a receptive audience for her work. = public, market, following, fans, devotees, fanbase, aficionados 3 The Prime Minister will seek an audience with the Queen today. = interview, meeting, hearing, exchange, reception, consultationaudit VERB Each year they audit our accounts and certify them as true and fair. = inspect, check, review, balance, survey, examine, investigate, go through, assess, go over, evaluate, vet, verify, appraise, scrutinize, inquire into ▸ NOUN The bank is carrying out an internal audit. = inspection, check, checking, review, balancing, search, survey, investigation, examination, scan, scrutiny, supervision, surveillance, look-over, verification, once-over (informal), checkup, superintendenceaugment VERB = increase, grow, raise, extend, boost, expand, add to, build up, strengthen, enhance, reinforce, swell, intensify, heighten, enlarge, multiply, inflate, magnify, amplify, dilate ◼ OPPOSITE: diminishaugur VERB = bode, promise, predict, herald, signify, foreshadow, prophesy, harbinger, presage, prefigure, portend, betoken, be an omen ofaugust ADJECTIVE = noble, great, kingly, grand, excellent, imposing, impressive, superb, distinguished, magnificent, glorious, splendid, elevated, eminent, majestic, dignified, regal, stately, high-ranking, monumental, solemn, lofty, exaltedaura NOUN = air, feeling, feel, quality, atmosphere, tone, suggestion, mood, scent, aroma, odour, ambience, vibes (slang), vibrations (slang), emanationauspices PLURAL NOUN = support, backing, control, charge, care, authority, championship, influence, protection, guidance, sponsorship, supervision, patronage, advocacy, countenance, aegisauspicious ADJECTIVE = favourable, timely, happy, promising, encouraging, bright, lucky, hopeful, fortunate, prosperous, rosy, opportune (formal), propitious, felicitous ◼ OPPOSITE: unpromisingaustere ADJECTIVE 1 an austere, distant, cold person = stern, hard, serious, cold, severe, formal, grave, strict, exacting, harsh, stiff, forbidding, grim, rigorous, solemn, stringent, inflexible, unrelenting, unfeeling ◼ OPPOSITE: kindly 2 The church was austere and simple. = plain, simple, severe, spare, harsh, stark, bleak, subdued, economical, Spartan, unadorned, unornamented, bare-bones ◼ OPPOSITE: luxurious 3 The life of the troops was comparatively austere. = ascetic, strict, continent, exacting, rigid, sober, economical, solemn, Spartan, unrelenting, self-disciplined, puritanical, chaste, strait-laced, abstemious, self-denying, abstinent ◼ OPPOSITE: abandonedausterity NOUN 1 abandoned buildings with a classical austerity = plainness, economy, simplicity, severity, starkness, spareness, Spartanism 2 the years of austerity which followed the war = asceticism, economy, rigidity, abstinence, self-discipline, chastity, sobriety, continence, puritanism, solemnity, self-denial, strictness, abstemiousness, chasteness, exactingness, Spartanismauthentic ADJECTIVE 1 patterns for making authentic border-style clothing = real, true, original, actual, pure, genuine, valid, faithful, undisputed, veritable, lawful, on the level (informal), bona fide, dinkum (Austral. & N.Z. informal), pukka, the real McCoy, true-to-life, live (of data) ◼ OPPOSITE: fake 2 authentic details about the birth of the organization = accurate, true, certain, reliable, legitimate, authoritative, factual, truthful, dependable, trustworthy, veracious ◼ OPPOSITE: fictitiousauthenticate VERB 1 All the antiques have been authenticated. = verify, guarantee, warrant, authorize, certify, avouch ◼ OPPOSITE: invalidate 2 He authenticated the accuracy of various details. = vouch for, confirm, endorse, validate, attestauthenticity NOUN 1 Some factors have cast doubt on the statue's authenticity. = genuineness, purity, realness, veritableness 2 The film's authenticity of detail has impressed critics. = accuracy, truth, certainty, validity, reliability, legitimacy, verity, actuality, faithfulness, truthfulness, dependability, trustworthiness, authoritativeness, factualnessauthor NOUN 1 She's the author of the book 'Give your Child Music'. = writer, composer, novelist, hack, creator, columnist, scribbler, scribe, essayist, wordsmith, penpusher, littérateur, man or woman of letters 2 the authors of the plan = creator, father, mother, parent, maker, producer, framer, designer, founder, architect, planner, inventor, mover, originator, prime mover, doer, initiator, begetter, fabricatorauthoritarian ADJECTIVE There was a coup to restore authoritarian rule. = strict, severe, absolute, harsh, rigid, autocratic, dictatorial, dogmatic, imperious, domineering, unyielding, tyrannical, disciplinarian, despotic, doctrinaire ◼ OPPOSITE: lenient ▸ NOUN He became an overly strict authoritarian. = disciplinarian, dictator, tyrant, despot, autocrat, absolutistauthoritative ADJECTIVE 1 She has an authoritative manner. = commanding, lordly, masterly, imposing, dominating, confident, decisive, imperative, assertive, autocratic, dictatorial, dogmatic, imperious, self-assured, peremptory ◼ OPPOSITE: timid 2 The first authoritative study was published in 1840. = official, approved, sanctioned, legitimate, sovereign, authorized, commanding ◼ OPPOSITE: unofficial 3 The evidence she uses is highly authoritative. = reliable, learned, sound, true, accurate, valid, scholarly, faithful, authentic, definitive, factual, truthful, veritable, dependable, trustworthy ◼ OPPOSITE: unreliableauthority NOUN 1 (usually plural) This was a pretext for the authorities to cancel the elections. = powers that be, government, police, officials, the state, management, administration, the system, the Establishment, Big Brother (informal), officialdom 2 The judge has no authority to order a second trial. = prerogative, right, influence, might, force, power, control, charge, rule, government, weight, strength, direction, command, licence, privilege, warrant, say-so, sway, domination, jurisdiction, supremacy, dominion, ascendancy, mana (N.Z.) 3 Professor Ahmed is an authority on Russian affairs. = expert, specialist, professional, master, ace (informal), scholar, guru, buff (informal), wizard, whizz (informal), virtuoso, connoisseur, arbiter, hotshot (informal), fundi (S. African) 4 He has no natural authority. = command, power, control, rule, management, direction, grasp, sway, domination, mastery, dominion 5 She must first be given authority by her board. = permission, leave, permit, sanction, licence, approval, go-ahead (informal), liberty, consent, warrant, say-so (informal), tolerance, justification, green light, assent, authorization, dispensation, carte blanche, a blank cheque, sufferanceauthorization NOUN = permission, right, leave, power, authority, ability, strength, permit, sanction, licence, approval, warrant, say-so (informal), credentials, a blank chequeauthorize VERB 1 They authorized him to use force if necessary. = empower, commission, enable, entitle, mandate, accredit, give authority to 2 We are willing to authorize a police raid. = permit, allow, suffer, grant, confirm, agree to, approve, sanction, endure, license, endorse, warrant, tolerate, ratify, consent to, countenance, accredit, vouch for, give leave, give the green light for, give a blank cheque to, give authority for ◼ OPPOSITE: forbidauthorized ADJECTIVE = official, commissioned, approved, licensed, ratified, signed and sealedautobiography NOUN = life story, record, history, résumé, memoirsautocracy NOUN = dictatorship, tyranny, despotism, absolutismautocrat NOUN = dictator, tyrant, despot, absolutistautocratic ADJECTIVE = dictatorial, absolute, unlimited, all-powerful, imperious, domineering, tyrannical, despotic, tyrannousautomatic ADJECTIVE 1 Modern trains have automatic doors. = mechanical, robot, automated, mechanized, push-button, self-regulating, self-propelling, self-activating, self-moving, self-acting, hands-off ◼ OPPOSITE: done by hand 2 the automatic body functions, such as breathing = involuntary, natural, unconscious, mechanical, spontaneous, reflex, instinctive, instinctual, unwilled ◼ OPPOSITE: conscious 3 People who litter should face automatic fines. = inevitable, certain, necessary, assured, routine, unavoidable, inescapableautonomous ADJECTIVE = self-ruling, free, independent, sovereign, self-sufficient, self-governing, self-determiningautonomy NOUN = independence, freedom, sovereignty, self-determination, self-government, self-rule, self-sufficiency, home rule, rangatiratanga (N.Z.) ◼ OPPOSITE: dependencyautopsy NOUN = postmortem, dissection, postmortem examination, necropsyauxiliary ADJECTIVE 1 auxiliary fuel tanks = supplementary, reserve, emergency, substitute, secondary, back-up, subsidiary, fall-back 2 the army and auxiliary forces = supporting, helping, aiding, assisting, accessory, ancillary ◼ OPPOSITE: primary ▸ NOUN a nursing auxiliary = helper, partner, ally, associate, supporter, assistant, companion, accessory, subordinate, protagonist, accomplice, confederate, henchman or woman or personavail NOUN His efforts were to no avail. = benefit, use, help, good, service, aid, profit, advantage, purpose, assistance, utility, effectiveness, mileage (informal), usefulness, efficacy ● avail yourself of something Guests should feel at liberty to avail themselves of your facilities. = make use of, use, employ, exploit, take advantage of, profit from, make the most of, utilize, have recourse to, turn to accountavailability NOUN = accessibility, readiness, handiness, attainability, obtainabilityavailable ADJECTIVE = accessible, ready, to hand, convenient, handy, vacant, on hand, at hand, free, applicable, to be had, achievable, obtainable, on tap (informal), attainable, at your fingertips, at your disposal, ready for use ◼ OPPOSITE: in useavalanche NOUN 1 Four people died in an avalanche last week. = snow-slide, landslide, landslip, snow-slip 2 He was greeted with an avalanche of publicity. = large amount, barrage, torrent, deluge, inundationavant-garde ADJECTIVE = progressive, pioneering, way-out (informal), experimental, innovative, unconventional, far-out (slang), ground-breaking, innovatory ◼ OPPOSITE: conservativeavarice NOUN = greed, meanness, penny-pinching, parsimony (formal), acquisitiveness, rapacity, cupidity (formal), stinginess, covetousness, miserliness, greediness, niggardliness, graspingness, close-fistedness, penuriousness ◼ OPPOSITE: liberalityavenge VERB = get revenge for, revenge, repay, retaliate for, take revenge for, hit back for, requite, pay (someone) back for, get even for (informal), even the score for, get your own back for, take vengeance for, take satisfaction for, pay (someone) back in their own coin for

avenue NOUN = street, way, course, drive, road, pass, approach, channel, access, entry, route, path, passage, entrance, alley, pathway, boulevard, driveway, thoroughfareaverage NOUN The pay is about the average for a service industry. = standard, normal, usual, par, mode, mean, rule, medium, norm, run of the mill, midpoint ▸ ADJECTIVE 1 The average man burns over 2000 calories a day. = usual, common, standard, general, normal, regular, ordinary, typical, commonplace, unexceptional ◼ OPPOSITE: unusual 2 The average age of the group was 23. = mean, middle, medium, intermediate, median 3 I was only average academically. = mediocre, fair, ordinary, moderate, pedestrian, indifferent, not bad, middling, insignificant, so-so (informal), banal, second-rate, middle-of-the-road, tolerable (informal), run-of-the-mill, passable, undistinguished, uninspired, unexceptional, bog-standard (Brit. & Irish slang), no great shakes (informal), fair to middling (informal) ▸ VERB pay increases averaging 9.75% = make on average, be on average, even out to, do on average, balance out to ● on average On average we would be spending $200 a day. = usually, generally, normally, typically, for the most part, as a ruleaverse ADJECTIVE = opposed, reluctant, hostile, unwilling, backward, unfavourable, loath, disinclined, inimical, indisposed, antipathetic, ill-disposed ◼ OPPOSITE: favourableaversion NOUN = hatred, hate, horror, disgust, hostility, opposition, dislike, reluctance, loathing, distaste, animosity, revulsion, antipathy, repulsion, abhorrence, disinclination, repugnance, odium (formal), detestation, indisposition ◼ OPPOSITE: loveavert VERB 1 A fresh tragedy was narrowly averted yesterday. = ward off, avoid, prevent, frustrate, fend off, preclude, stave off, forestall, deflect 2 He kept his eyes averted. = turn away, turn, turn asideaviation NOUN = flying, flight, aeronautics, powered flightaviator NOUN = pilot, flyer (old-fashioned), airman, airwoman, aeronautavid ADJECTIVE 1 an avid collector of art = enthusiastic, keen, devoted, intense, eager, passionate, ardent, fanatical, fervent, zealous, keen as mustard ◼ OPPOSITE: indifferent 2 He was avid for wealth. = insatiable, hungry, greedy, thirsty, grasping, voracious, acquisitive, ravenous, rapacious, avaricious, covetous, athirstavoid VERB 1 She had to take emergency action to avoid a disaster. = prevent, stop, frustrate, hamper, foil, inhibit, head off, avert, thwart, intercept, hinder, obstruct, impede, ward off, stave off, forestall, defend against 2 He managed to avoid giving them an idea of what he was up to. = refrain from, bypass, dodge, eschew, escape, duck (out of) (informal), fight shy of, shirk from 3 He had ample time to swerve and avoid the hedgehog. = keep away from, dodge, shun, evade, steer clear of, sidestep, circumvent (formal), bypass, slip through the net, body-swerve, give a wide berth toavoidable ADJECTIVE 1 The tragedy was entirely avoidable. = preventable, stoppable, avertible or avertable ◼ OPPOSITE: unpreventable 2 Lack of exercise is an avoidable cause of stress. = escapable, evadable ◼ OPPOSITE: inevitableavoidance NOUN 1 tax avoidance = refraining, dodging, shirking, eschewal 2 Improve your health by stress avoidance. = prevention, safeguard, precaution, anticipation, thwarting, elimination, deterrence, forestalling, prophylaxis, preclusion, obviationavow VERB = state, maintain, declare, allege, recognize, swear, assert, proclaim, affirm, profess, aver, asseverateavowed ADJECTIVE = declared, open, admitted, acknowledged, confessed, sworn, professed, self-proclaimedawait VERB 1 Little was said as we awaited the arrival of the chairman. = wait for, expect, look for, look forward to, anticipate, stay for 2 A nasty surprise awaited them. = be in store for, wait for, be ready for, lie in wait for, be in readiness forawake VERB 1 I awoke to the sound of the wind in the trees. = wake up, come to, wake, stir, awaken, rouse 2 He had awoken interest in the sport again. = alert, excite, stimulate, provoke, revive, arouse, activate, awaken, fan, animate, stir up, incite, kick-start (informal), enliven, kindle, breathe life into, call forth, vivify 3 The aim was to awaken an interest in foreign cultures. = stimulate, excite, provoke, activate, alert, animate, fan, stir up, incite, kick-start (informal), enliven, kindle, breathe life into, call forth, vivify ▸ ADJECTIVE 1 I don't stay awake at night worrying about that. = not sleeping, sleepless, wide-awake, aware, waking, conscious, aroused, awakened, restless, restive, wakeful, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed ◼ OPPOSITE: asleep 2 They are awake to the challenge of stemming the exodus. = alert, aware, on the lookout, alive, attentive, on the alert, observant, watchful, on guard, on your toes, heedful, vigilantaward VERB 1 She was awarded the prize for both films. = present with, give, grant, gift, distribute, render, assign, decree, hand out, confer, endow, bestow, allot, apportion, adjudge 2 The contract has been awarded to a British shipyard. = grant, give, render, assign, decree, accord, confer, adjudge ▸ NOUN 1 this year's annual pay award = grant, subsidy, scholarship, hand-out, endowment, stipend 2 She presented a bravery award to the schoolgirl. = prize, gift, trophy, decoration, grant, bonsela (S. African), koha (N.Z.) 3 worker's compensation awards = settlement, payment, compensationaware ADJECTIVE They are politically very aware. = informed, enlightened, knowledgeable, learned, expert, versed, up to date, in the picture, in the know (informal), erudite, well-read, au fait (French), in the loop, well-briefed, au courant (French), clued-up (informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: ignorant ● aware of They are well aware of the dangers. = knowing about, familiar with, conscious of, wise to (slang), alert to, mindful of, acquainted with, alive to, awake to, privy to, hip to (slang), appreciative of, attentive to, conversant with, apprised of, cognizant of, sensible ofawareness NOUN ● awareness of = knowledge of, understanding of, appreciation of, recognition of, attention to, perception of, consciousness of, acquaintance with, enlightenment with, sensibility to, realization of, familiarity with, mindfulness of, cognizance of, sentience ofaway ADJECTIVE She was away on a business trip. = absent, out, gone, elsewhere, abroad, not there, not here, not present, on vacation, not at home ▸ ADVERB 1 She drove away before he could speak again. = off, elsewhere, abroad, hence, from here 2 I put my journal away and prepared for bed. = aside, out of the way, to one side 3 They live thirty miles away from town. = at a distance, far, apart, remote, isolated 4 He would work away on his computer well into the night. = continuously, repeatedly, relentlessly, incessantly, interminably, unremittingly, uninterruptedlyawe NOUN She gazed in awe at the great stones. = wonder, fear, respect, reverence, horror, terror, dread, admiration, amazement, astonishment, veneration ◼ OPPOSITE: contempt ▸ VERB I am still awed by his courage. = impress, amaze, stun, frighten, terrify, cow, astonish, horrify, intimidate, dauntawed ADJECTIVE = impressed, shocked, amazed, afraid, stunned, frightened, terrified, cowed, astonished, horrified, intimidated, fearful, daunted, dumbfounded, wonder-struckawe-inspiring ADJECTIVE = impressive, striking, wonderful, amazing, stunning (informal), magnificent, astonishing, intimidating, awesome, daunting, breathtaking, eye-popping (informal), fearsome, wondrous (archaic, literary), jaw-dropping ◼ OPPOSITE: unimpressiveawesome ADJECTIVE = awe-inspiring, striking, shocking, imposing, terrible, amazing, stunning (informal), wonderful, alarming, impressive, frightening, awful (obsolete), overwhelming, terrifying, magnificent, astonishing, horrible, dreadful, formidable, horrifying, intimidating, fearful (informal), daunting, breathtaking, majestic, solemn, fearsome, wondrous (archaic, literary), redoubtable, jaw-dropping, stupefyingawestruck or awe-stricken ADJECTIVE = impressed, shocked, amazed, stunned, afraid, frightened, terrified, cowed, astonished, horrified, intimidated, fearful, awed, daunted, awe-inspired, dumbfounded, struck dumb, wonder-struckawful ADJECTIVE 1 an awful smell of paint = disgusting, terrible, tremendous, offensive, gross, nasty, foul, horrible, dreadful, unpleasant, revolting, stinking (informal), sickening, hideous, vulgar, vile, distasteful, horrid (informal), frightful, nauseating, odious, repugnant, loathsome, abominable, nauseous, detestable, godawful (slang), hellacious (U.S. slang), festy (Austral. slang), yucko (Austral. slang) 2 Even if the weather's awful there's still lots to do. = bad, poor, terrible (informal), appalling, foul, rubbish (slang), dreadful, unpleasant, dire, horrendous, ghastly, from hell (informal), atrocious, deplorable, abysmal, frightful, hellacious (U.S. slang) ◼ OPPOSITE: wonderful 3 The destruction was massive; it was awful. = shocking, serious, alarming, distressing, dreadful, horrifying, horrific, hideous, harrowing, gruesome 4 I looked awful and felt quite sleepy. = unwell, poorly (informal), ill, terrible, sick, ugly, crook (Austral. & N.Z. informal), unhealthy, unsightly, queasy, out of sorts (informal), off-colour, under the weather (informal), green about the gillsawfully ADVERB 1 That caramel looks awfully good. = very, extremely, terribly, exceptionally, quite, very much, seriously (informal), greatly, immensely, exceedingly, excessively, dreadfully 2 I played awfully, and there are no excuses. = badly, woefully, dreadfully, inadequately, disgracefully, wretchedly, unforgivably, shoddily, reprehensibly, disreputablyawhile ADVERB = for a while, briefly, for a moment, for a short time, for a little while

awkward ADJECTIVE 1 There was an awkward moment when people had to decide where to stand. = embarrassing, difficult, compromising, sensitive, embarrassed, painful, distressing, delicate, uncomfortable, tricky, trying, humiliating, unpleasant, sticky (informal), troublesome, perplexing, disconcerting, inconvenient, thorny, untimely, ill at ease, discomfiting, ticklish, inopportune, toe-curling (slang), barro (Austral. slang), cringeworthy (Brit. informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: comfortable 2 It was heavy enough to make it awkward to carry. = inconvenient, difficult, troublesome, cumbersome, unwieldy, unmanageable, clunky (informal), unhandy ◼ OPPOSITE: convenient 3 She made an awkward gesture with her hands. = clumsy, stiff, rude, blundering, coarse, bungling, lumbering, inept, unskilled, bumbling, unwieldy, ponderous, ungainly, gauche, gawky, uncouth, unrefined, artless, inelegant, uncoordinated, graceless, cack-handed (informal), unpolished, clownish, oafish, inexpert, maladroit, all thumbs, ungraceful, skill-less, unskilful, butterfingered (informal), unhandy, ham-fisted or ham-handed (informal), unco (Austral. slang) ◼ OPPOSITE: graceful 4 She's got to an age where she's being awkward. = uncooperative, trying, difficult, annoying, unpredictable, unreasonable, stubborn, troublesome, perverse, prickly, exasperating, irritable, intractable, vexing, unhelpful, touchy, obstinate, obstructive, bloody-minded (Brit. informal), chippy (informal), vexatious, hard to handle, disobligingawkwardness NOUN 1 He displayed all the awkwardness of adolescence. = clumsiness, stiffness, rudeness, coarseness, ineptness, artlessness, gaucheness, inelegance, gaucherie, gracelessness, oafishness, gawkiness, uncouthness, maladroitness, ungainliness, clownishness, inexpertness, uncoordination, unskilfulness, unskilledness 2 It was a moment of some awkwardness in our relationship. = embarrassment, difficulty, discomfort, delicacy, unpleasantness, inconvenience, stickiness (informal), painfulness, ticklishness, uphill (S. African), thorniness, inopportuneness, perplexingness, untimelinessawry ADVERB He was concerned that his hair might go awry. = askew, to one side, off course, out of line, obliquely, unevenly, off-centre, cockeyed (informal), out of true, crookedly, skew-whiff (informal) ▸ ADJECTIVE His dark hair was all awry. = askew, twisted, crooked, to one side, uneven, off course, out of line, asymmetrical, off-centre, cockeyed (informal), misaligned, out of true, skew-whiff (informal) ▸ ADVERB or ADJECTIVE a plan that had gone awry = wrong, amissaxe NOUN She took an axe and chopped down some trees. = hatchet, chopper, tomahawk, cleaver, adze ▸ VERB 1 Community projects are being axed by the government. = abandon, end, pull, eliminate, cancel, scrap, wind up, turn off (informal), relegate, cut back, terminate, dispense with, discontinue, pull the plug on 2 He was axed by the club after his comments about a referee. = dismiss, fire (informal), sack (informal), remove, get rid of, discharge, throw out, oust, give (someone) their marching orders, give the boot to (slang, old-fashioned), give the bullet to (Brit. slang), give the push to, kennet (Austral. slang), jeff (Austral. slang) ● an axe to grind I've got no axe to grind with him. = pet subject, grievance, ulterior motive, private purpose, personal consideration, private ends ● the axe one of the four doctors facing the axe = the sack (informal), dismissal, discharge, wind-up, the boot (slang), cancellation, cutback, termination, the chop (slang), the (old) heave-ho (informal), the order of the boot (slang)axiom NOUN = principle, fundamental, maxim, gnome, adage, postulate, dictum, precept, aphorism, truism, apophthegmaxis NOUN = pivot, shaft, axle, spindle, centre lineaxle NOUN = shaft, pin, rod, axis, pivot, spindle, arbor, mandrelazure ADJECTIVE = sky blue, blue, clear blue, ultramarine, cerulean, sky-coloured