Dictionary

chopping block en · NOUN

Meanings

1. A thick wooden slab used as a cutting surface for preparing food, splitting firewood or kindling, etc.
   • Near-synonyms: butcher block, butcher's block
2. (historical, informal) A block of wood against which a condemned person put their head prior to beheading.
3. (broadly) A dangerous or precarious situation.
   • Jim really put his head on the chopping block when he started flirting with the boss's daughter.
4. (broadly) A dangerous or precarious situation. ▸ The threat of an impending budget cut.
   • Our team might be on the chopping block — the company seems to be finding excuses to avoid funding these operating expenses.

Forms

Coordinates

cutting board · chopping board

Relateds

sword of Damocles · chop up · chop down · slash · take an axe to

Synonyms

butcher block · butcher's block

Translations (12)

ga ceap búistéara (a wooden slab used as a cutting surface for food) · ru разде́лочная доска́ (a wooden slab used as a cutting surface for food) · ba бүкән (a wooden slab used as a cutting surface for food) · es bloque de trocear (a wooden slab used as a cutting surface for food) · ru пла́ха (a block of wood people place their heads on prior to beheading) · es bloque de cortar (a wooden slab used as a cutting surface for food) · pdt Heiwklotz (a wooden slab used as a cutting surface for food) · grc ἐπίξηνον (a wooden slab used as a cutting surface for food) · da huggeblok (a wooden slab used as a cutting surface for food) · es bloque de picar (a wooden slab used as a cutting surface for food) · grc ἐπίξηνον (a block of wood people place their heads on prior to beheading) · th เขียง (a wooden slab used as a cutting surface for food)