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Question
#38943. Hamlet.
asks:
Why is someone with a hidden agenda or selfish motives said to have an "axe to grind?"
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shady shaker
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Howdy, Hamlet!! According to phrases.shu.ac.uk,
this saying originated with Benjamin Franklin.
Ben had a visitor interested in finding out how
Franklin's grindstone worked. To demonstrate Ben sharpened the man's axe for him, which is exactly
what his visitor hoped he would do!!
which is exactly what the visitor
had hoped he would do.
Sep 20 03, 4:27 AM
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