Waiting for the axe to fall - means?

Question

Sorry, I'm not sure whether i posted at the right forum or not. I just want to know what's the meaning of "waiting for the axe to fall" ? and is it an idiom? if not, what category is it?

Thanks..Please help.

Khoff · Accepted Answer

Suppose you suspect that you are going to be fired, but the boss has not officially told you yet - you spend the day in nervous anticipation, "waiting for the axe to fall" -- like a condemned prisoned who is waiting for the execution to proceed.

I would just call it an expression - I'm not sure if there is an official name for it or not.

Hope this helps.

Starget1 · Answer

Thanks khoff. The anonymous was me. I mean I was in a hurry to ask.. So, didn't register. Now, I'm registered. Anyway, thanks a lot!<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Khoff · Answer

Welcome to the Forum, Starget1, and thanks for registering.  <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Anonymous · Answer

I have often thought that this idiom came from the story I read as a child about a young man who fell in love with a young woman. One day he found her in her father's woodshed, sobbing. When he asked her why, she looked up and showed him an axe that had been hammered into the ceiling. She explained that she was terrified that it would fall and kill her father. The man laughed and decided that she might just be the stupidest person ever. But then he found out that the family all had the same fear. And he told them that they simply had to remove the axe in order to not be killed by it. Then he decided to venture out and see if he could find anybody more stupid than this family. And if he could, then he would return and marry the girl. Potentially, the idiom addresses the fear we often make up over things that have not yet occurred.

Waiting for the axe to fall - means?

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