chopping block

1. A thick wooden slab used as a cutting surface for preparing food, splitting firewood or kindling, etc.

   Near-synonyms: butcher block, butcher's block

   разде́лочная доска́razdéločnaja doská

2. (historical, informal)A block of wood against which a condemned person put their head prior to beheading.

   пла́хаpláxa

   a steady wooden block on which food can be cut or diced or wood can be split

3. (broadly)A dangerous or precarious situation.

   Jim really put his head on the chopping block when he started flirting with the boss's daughter.

4. A dangerous or precarious situation.

   (broadly)The threat of an impending budget cut.

   Our team might be on the chopping block — the company seems to be finding excuses to avoid funding these operating expenses.

regular