Guillotining

Guillotining, in its literal sense, refers to the act of beheading using a guillotine, a device that utilizes a heavy blade dropped between two upright posts. Figuratively, it describes a decisive and often brutal removal or elimination of something, whether it be a person, a policy, a practice, or an element. It implies swift, final, and often public dismissal or eradication. The term carries connotations of severity, finality, and a lack of mercy or compromise. It highlights the ruthless and irreversible nature of the action. It is derived from the French Revolution and the method of execution which used the guillotine.

Guillotining meaning with examples

• The new CEO, known for his ruthlessness, proposed guillotining several departments to streamline the company, sparking fear and anxiety among the employees regarding possible layoffs.
• The government's decision to guillotine the proposed environmental regulations drew harsh criticism from conservation groups who worried about the long-term effects on ecological preservation.
• In a political maneuver, the party leadership considered guillotining the debate on the bill, restricting discussion to ensure its passage without amendments.
• The editor, facing declining readership, made the difficult choice of guillotining several long-standing, though underperforming, articles in an attempt to revitalize the online newspaper.
• The financial crisis forced the company to consider guillotining the company's extensive benefits packages, leaving the workforce worried about their compensation.