no quarter
Sparing no lives
No quarter means showing no mercy, particularly in warfare where it originally referred to refusing to spare the lives of surrendering enemies.
The phrase comes from the military convention of giving "quarter" (shelter or clemency) to captured soldiers.
Today it extends beyond combat to describe any situation of ruthless, uncompromising action: The prosecutor gave no quarter during cross-examination.
To give or ask no quarter is to neither offer nor expect mercy.
Lacking any compassion
- ruthlessLacking any compassion
- brutalSavagely harsh or severe
- unsparingShowing no leniency
- relentlessContinuing without pause
unmerciful · cold-blooded · savage · barbarous · cruel · heartless · remorseless · vicious
Combat engagement area
- combatArmed hostile engagement
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
- surrenderCease resistance, yield
- prisonersIncarcerated individuals
execution · massacre · slaughter · conquest · victory · defeat · enemy · combatants
Refusing to give way
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
- adamantStubbornly refusing to yield
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- intransigentRefusing to compromise
implacable · inexorable · unbending · hardline · resolute · steadfast · unwavering · firm
Buccaneer's standard
- black flagCombat or racing warning banner
- buccaneersCaribbean sea raiders
- privateersLicensed wartime ship raiders
- plunderGoods seized violently
boarding · cutlass · swashbuckler · maritime · galleon · mutiny · treasure · corsair
pitiless
Lacking any compassion
relentless · unmerciful · cold-blooded · savage · barbarous · cruel · heartless · remorseless · vicious · callous
battlefield
Combat engagement area
prisoners · execution · massacre · slaughter · conquest · victory · defeat · enemy · combatants · engagement
unyielding
Refusing to give way
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
- adamantStubbornly refusing to yield
- inflexibleUnable to bend
intransigent · implacable · inexorable · unbending · hardline · resolute · steadfast · unwavering · firm · absolute
Jolly Roger
Buccaneer's standard
- black flagCombat or racing warning banner
- buccaneersCaribbean sea raiders
- privateersLicensed wartime ship raiders
plunder · boarding · cutlass · swashbuckler · maritime · galleon · mutiny · treasure · corsair · marauders
- battle criesbattle cry, charge, hooah, banzai, oorah
- Warfare Customswar cry, battle cry, war drums, war drum, war chant
- combatbattle, fight, combat, unarmed combat, grappling
no quarterclemency
Merciful treatment of offenders
mercy · quarter · pardon · amnesty · compassion
no quartercompromise
Agreement through mutual sacrifice
accommodation · concession · live and let live · middle ground · give and take