1.   Though the ox escape the axe, it has smelt the blood and heard the bellows from the killing-floor, and it will never be fooled again.

2.   THE NUMBER of army bands is to be cut by half over the next two years -- but all Scottish regimental pipes and drums have escaped the axe.

3.   Even the Department of Commerce, once seen as most likely to be chopped, has so far escaped the axe.

4.   New Zealand rugby union coach John Hart escaped the axe Saturday and received a vote of confidence from his employers after the worst year in All Black test history.

5.   He may have been referring to his room-mate and fly-half Christophe Deylaud who played badly in the Ireland game but escaped the axe.

6.   Azharuddin, in the media spotlight following his marriage break-up, will escape the axe for the moment at least.

7.   England centre Jeremy Guscott, prop Victor Ubogu and winger Tony Underwood all escaped the axe by a whisker.

8.   Waldegrave pledged that the government would make radical cuts in public spending to fund lower taxes, saying that only health and pensions could expect to escape the axe.