put to the sword

idiom

The phrase "put to the sword" originates from historical warfare, where it literally meant killing with a sword. Today, it is often used metaphorically.

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Definition

C2Historical

(archaic, literal)To kill someone using a sword.

Example

The captured soldiers were put to the sword.

C2Warfare

(literal)To kill people during war or conflict.

Example

The invaders put the entire village to the sword.

C1General

(metaphorical)To decisively and thoroughly defeat someone or something.

Example

The home team was put to the sword by their rivals.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "put to the sword":

live by the sword, die by the sword fall on one's sword cross swords cut to pieces do to death send to the scaffold put to sleep to the death get the chop