To have a hidden agenda or motive.
This expression is believed to have originated from Poor Richard's Almanac by Benjamin Franklin, in which he was a central character in the story.
A man stopped to admire the Franklin's family grindstone. He asked for a demonstration of how it worked and offered the young Benjamin his axe on which to demonstrate.
Once the ax was sharp, the man walked away, laughing. He had used his admiration of the grindstone to cover up his real agenda of getting his ax sharpened.
Nowadays the saying usually has a slightly different connotation: To get someone told off or settle a score with/get even with someone
Alphabetical list of expressions
Challenge yourself with BookBrowse Wordplays
Natural History
by Andrea Barrett
A masterful new collection of interconnected stories, from the renowned National Book Award–winning author.
It is a fact of life that any discourse...will always please if it is five minutes shorter than people expect
Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes!
Your guide toexceptional books
BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
