Just how many freelancers get the chop is a question whose implications go beyond those immediately affected, however.

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They argued strongly for the Harrier to get the chop instead, and succeeded creating the carrier gap, since no replacement could be ready quickly.

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In May, a proposed merger between Sega and Bandai, two makers of computer games, was abandoned at the eleventh hour because of opposition from middle managers at Bandai, who thought that they would get the chop.

ECONOMIST: Mergers

"The starter's pistol fires, and then you just hear the chop-chop-chop of people rowing as fast as they can to get to the good spots, " Yera says.

FORBES: Forbidden Bass

But if it became clear that Mr Duncan Smith was for the chop, Messrs Howard and Letwin could well be the nearest the party can get in present circumstances to a dream ticket.

ECONOMIST: Conservative leadership

In the Skyrim game, players can slay dragons or plunder tombs, but also get married or do tasks like chop firewood or cook.

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