How do you say “An axe to grind” in German?
The closest natural German equivalent is eigene Interessen verfolgen, which literally means “to pursue one's own interests”. English speakers use an axe to grind to mean a personal interest or grievance that influences someone's views or actions. Fits a personal agenda; an old grievance needs different wording. Register: neutral. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural German
eigene Interessen verfolgen
/ˈaɪɡənə ɪntəˈʁɛsn̩ fɛɐ̯ˈfɔlɡn̩/
- Literal meaning
- “to pursue one's own interests”
- Register
- neutral
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Close equivalent
88 out of 100
What a native German speaker would actually say
This is a useful choice when someone's opinion serves their own interests. It does not automatically suggest anger or revenge.
If the English means an old grudge, “mit jemandem noch eine Rechnung offen haben” is closer. That version points to an unresolved dispute with a particular person.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning4 out of 5
- Tone4 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity1 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in German?
mit jemandem noch eine Rechnung offen haben
Literally: “to still have a bill open with someone”
Use for an old grievance, not simply a personal interest.
In context
English
He has an axe to grind in this debate: he owns the land.
German
Er verfolgt in dieser Debatte eigene Interessen: Ihm gehört das Grundstück.
English
She has an axe to grind with her former boss after he took credit for her work.
German
Sie hat mit ihrem früheren Chef noch eine Rechnung offen, weil er ihre Arbeit als seine eigene ausgegeben hat.
Related expressions
Last updated 2026-09-19