[Tanialoves]

Hello,

If a person "is on a chopping block", does it mean that he/she "is in a dangerous situation"?

I cannot find this idiom in any dictionary, but as a chopping block means "a block of wood used for cutting food/wood on", then my assumption may be right.

Thank you

[susan53]

You'll have to give us the full context Tania - your interpretation seems likely, but without knowing the full sentence it's difficult to say. It's not a standard idiom but a metaphor which needs to be interpreted withing the context. i can think of several other possibilities.

[Tanialoves]

Hi, susan

I do not remember the exact sentence (it is again from The Apprentice). But it was something like this:

- I think Nick could be on the chopping block if Sammy is able to convince Trump that they lost because Nick had given them the wrong information.

Now I also think that this phrase may mean "be punished" or even "be killed". And the one who is "killed" has to leave the show.

A lot of ideas, but are they correct?
Thank you

[susan53]

OK - yes, now it's clear. The phrase was probably something like : Nick's head could be on the chopping block. ie that he was about to be "executed". So yes, it's a metaphor meaning that he's in trouble and/or about to be thrown out. Poor old Nick ...

[susan53]

Erm ... with what?