Dictionary entry
give the axe
verb
解雇；开除
to terminate the employment of; to discharge from an office or position
- 1.
terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position terminate a relationship abruptly
突然结束关系；分手
In use
The boss gave the entire sales team the axe after the failed quarter.
She was afraid her supervisor would give her the axe for being late so often.
The new CEO gave the axe to several senior managers during the restructuring.
give [sb] the axe
非正式用语，指解雇某人。
The boss gave him the axe last Friday.
老板上周五把他解雇了。
give the axe to [sb]
The company gave the axe to several employees.
公司解雇了几名员工。
give the axe to [sth]
此处指终止或取消某事物。
Management decided to give the axe to the failing project.
管理层决定终止那个失败的项目。
Common mistakes
He gave axe to his employee.He gave his employee the axe.
错误：遗漏了定冠词 'the'。'give the axe' 是一个固定短语，必须使用 'the'。修正后使用双宾语结构，将间接宾语 'his employee' 放在直接宾语 'the axe' 之前，这是更自然的说法。
He gave his employee an axe.He gave his employee the axe.
错误：使用了不定冠词 'an'。'give the axe' 是固定短语，意为'解雇'，不能替换冠词。这里必须用定冠词 'the' 来表示特定含义。
Connections
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WORDNET.