put to the sword
Kill by blade
To put to the sword is to kill, especially in warfare or as execution.
The phrase evokes an era when swords were primary weapons and conquering armies slaughtered defeated populations: The garrison was put to the sword after refusing to surrender.
Now largely historical or literary, occasionally used figuratively for ruthless destruction.
- put to deathKill by official order
- massacreLarge-scale unlawful killing
- slayDestroy or impress greatly
- executeCarry out fully
- killCause death
run through · cut down · fey · slaughter · blood and iron · assassinate · murder · exterminate · war crime · pillage · scorched earth · beheading · wipe out · memento mori · danse macabre · Grim Reaper · vanquish · battle cry