ax to grind
Personal ulterior motive
A personal motive or grievance that drives someone's actions or opinions, often one they don't openly acknowledge.
The phrase usually implies bias or self-interest behind seemingly neutral positions: He claims to support the policy on principle, but he has an ax to grind with the current leadership.
Someone with no ax to grind is impartial.
Persistent resentment toward someone
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- complaintExpression of discontent
- vendettaProlonged retaliatory conflict
- score to settleGrievance requiring revenge
chip on shoulder · beef · bone to pick · animosity · bitterness · ill will · hostility · spite
Concealed purpose behind behavior
- self-interestConcern for personal advantage
- angleGeometric measure of rotation
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
partiality · prejudice · partisanship · one-sidedness · slant · favoritism · vested interest · designs
grudge
Persistent resentment toward someone
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- complaintExpression of discontent
- vendettaProlonged retaliatory conflict
score to settle · chip on shoulder · beef · bone to pick · animosity · bitterness · ill will · hostility · spite · rancor
ulterior motive
Concealed purpose behind behavior
- self-interestConcern for personal advantage
- angleGeometric measure of rotation
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
bias · partiality · prejudice · partisanship · one-sidedness · slant · favoritism · vested interest · designs · machination
ax to grindobjectivity
Freedom from personal bias
impartiality · disinterestedness · neutrality · open-mindedness · fair-mindedness
ax to grindequanimity
Unshakable mental steadiness
forgiveness · letting go · serenity · peace of mind · no hard feelings
ground, grind, grinding, grinder, axed, grinds, axing, grinders, axman