Geddes Axe

English

Etymology

From Sir Eric Geddes, who chaired a UK government committee charged with finding unprecedented spending cuts in the 1920s.

Noun

Geddes Axe

1. (UK) Any process tending to eliminate non-essential elements
   • 1923, Rupert T. Gould, The Marine Chronometer, Holland Press, published 1960, page 209:

     The necessity for its maker, if he wishes to remain in business, to produce an efficient machine which shall at the same time be cheap, and therefore must be as simple as possible, has acted as a kind of "Geddes' Axe," (sic) sweeping away a number of inessential contrivances […]

See also

• Geddes Axe on Wikipedia.Wikipedia