chopping block
noun
1A block for chopping wood or food.Here, there were no rules to follow, no orders to carry out, just the simple feel of an ax in his hand, striking hard against the chopping block....
- Luke looked up and seeing Marie, lodged the axe in the chopping block and went to her.
- I dumped a load of chopped wood on the pile and returned to the chopping block.
1.1 historical An executioner’s block.I was only in London for four days when I was eleven, and didn't think much of standing next to the chopping block where Henry VIII had a couple of his wives beheaded....
- The chosen play, ‘Enter A Queen’ involved a production company rehearsing the story of Anne Boleyn headed for the chopping block.
- Brave adventurers were journeying from these shores to chart a flat world, currying favour with the trigger-happy monarch as they fought to keep their heads from the chopping block.
Phrases
on the chopping block