put to the sword
To execute, especially by using a sword.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The ancient army put the defeated soldiers to the sword.”
“In the historical novel, the invading forces put the entire village to the sword after the battle ended.”
“The king ordered that all who resisted his rule be put to the sword, ensuring that no dissent remained within his borders.”
- 01
beat one's swords into ploughshares
To refrain from destructive military or paramilitary acts (war, terrorism, etc.) and put energy and resources to peaceful ends that would otherwise go to violence.
- 02
cross swords
To quarrel or argue with someone; to have a dispute with someone.
- 03
fall on one's sword
To resign from a job or other position of responsibility, especially when pressured to do so.
- 04
flesh one's maiden sword
To experience or succeed in combat or struggle for the first time, as in the military or in politics.
- 05
lipstick on a pig
To make superficial or cosmetic changes to something in a doomed attempt to disguise its fundamental flaws.
- 06
measure swords with
To match one's abilities against an antagonist's.
- 07
not to put too fine a point on it
Used to apologize for a possibly impolite statement one is making; to put it bluntly; to express it in plain terms.
- 08
put a band-aid on a bullet wound
To inadequately treat a serious situation.
Last updated August 10, 2026