Words & TermsPolitics and public life
razor gang
A committee or group tasked with making severe spending cuts.
In a sentence
The government appointed a razor gang to cut departmental spending.
Where it came from
Razor gang originally named groups using razors as weapons in Sydney’s criminal history. In the 1980s it was transferred to committees charged with severe budget cuts.
- First recorded
- 1980s
- Initial era
- 1950–1999
- Where used
- Australian use; no narrower regional pattern established
- Use today
- Current political/economic usage