chopping block

noun

1. a thick, often large block of wood on which meat, vegetables, etc., are placed for cutting, trimming, chopping, and the like.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chopping block¹

First recorded in 1695–1705

Example Sentences

They’re the same projects that have been on the chopping block since Ikhrata came to SANDAG in 2018, and began promising a new system built around hundreds of miles of fast, frequent trains.

From Voice of San Diego

“At least in the city of San Diego, the first services on the chopping block whenever there’s even a hint of a budget crisis are library hours, rec center hours and parks programs,” he said.

From Voice of San Diego

Still, Michigan will lose a seat, and because Wayne County has shrunk over the past decade, there’s a good chance a seat in the Detroit area will be on the chopping block.

From FiveThirtyEight

The $15 minimum wage increase is now on the chopping block after the Senate parliamentarian ruled it fell outside the bill’s budgetary confines.

From TIme

The Sun was not bound for the hedge-fund chopping block like several other papers owned by Tribune Publishing.

From Washington Post

And how do fraternity members feel about their organizations being on the chopping block?

From The Daily Beast

Also, programs designed to help low-income families are always the first on the chopping block when state revenues go down.

From The Daily Beast

But this year, amid severe budget cuts in Washington; it once again went to the chopping block.

From The Daily Beast

“As soon as a financial crisis or economic downturn happens, often mental health is back on the chopping block,” Gruttadaro says.

From The Daily Beast

California has been offered up for the chopping block over 200 times.

From The Daily Beast

Looking about, he saw an ax sticking in a chopping-block, and a pile of wood near it, probably the fuel used by these people.

From Project Gutenberg

Guess we can do that, all right, Frank, he exclaimed; and theres your ax over by the chopping block.

From Project Gutenberg

He inspected it deliberately, and then sat weakly down on the chopping block near by.

From Project Gutenberg

Hiram noticed how he picked certain kinds of wood from the abundant supply over at the chopping block.

From Project Gutenberg

There, with a sigh as though his heart were breaking, the old man seated himself on the chopping block.

From Project Gutenberg