meat ax: Meaning and Definition of

meat' ax"

1. cleaver (def. 2).
2. a drastic or ruthless procedure or approach, esp. for reducing or trimming something, as expenditures: The committee used a meat ax on the recreation budget.

meat-ax

1. drastic or severe: meat-ax defense cuts.
2. favoring or advocating drastic reductions: a meat-ax approach to the budget.