Geddes Axe
(UK) Any process tending to eliminate non-essential elements.
ˈɡɛdəs ˈæksDocumented since 1920s1920sSilenthistorical194 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026＋ Add a definition
Etymology timeline
Born ~1920 · no dated citations yet20th centurySee decade cohort →
Definitions
UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK
(UK) Any process tending to eliminate non-essential elements.
Origin: From Sir Eric Geddes, who chaired a UK government committee charged with finding unprecedented spending cuts in the 1920s. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Was this helpful?
Comments
Used in
UK
Have a better definition?
Add your own interpretation of "Geddes Axe".
🇬🇧About British & Irish slang slang
UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.
See all British & Irish slang slang on Slangora.
Tags
Other words near "Geddes Axe" (G)
Browse all slang words starting with G.