sword
A long, sharp metal weapon with a handle, used for fighting, especially in the past or in stories.
A long weapon with a sharp metal blade and a handle, used for cutting or thrusting, especially in past times or in martial arts and fantasy settings.
Power that comes from using weapons and violence, especially as a way to rule or control people.
Military power or violent force, especially as a way of ruling, controlling, or punishing people, often used in fixed phrases and sayings.
- Base: sword
- Plural: swords
a double-edged sword
1thing with good and bad sides
Something that has both positive and negative results at the same time.
- Social media is a double-edged sword: it connects people, but it can also spread hate.
- Working from home can be a double-edged sword, giving freedom but also making it hard to switch off.
- Fame is a double-edged sword for many actors.
beat swords into plowshares
2turn from war to peaceful work
To stop making or using weapons and instead do peaceful, useful things like farming or building.
- The agreement aimed to beat swords into plowshares by turning arms factories into civilian industries.
- After years of conflict, the country tried to beat swords into plowshares and rebuild its farms.
- The organization works to beat swords into plowshares by recycling guns into art.
cross swords (with someone)
3enter into an argument
To have a strong argument or serious disagreement with someone.
- The two candidates often cross swords during the TV debates.
- She has crossed swords with the manager over company policy many times.
- Journalists regularly cross swords with the spokesperson at the briefing.
fall on one's sword
4accept blame and sacrifice oneself
To take full blame and accept a very bad result, often by leaving your position, usually to protect others or show responsibility.
- The minister fell on his sword and resigned after the scandal.
- He decided to fall on his sword so that his team would not be punished.
- The CEO refused to fall on her sword for mistakes she did not make.
live by the sword, die by the sword
5those who use violence suffer it
If you often use violence or do bad things to others, similar violence or bad things will probably happen to you in the end.
- Many people felt the gangster's death proved that you live by the sword, die by the sword.
- The film shows a criminal who lives by the sword, dies by the sword in a final shoot-out.
- Commentators said the fall of the violent regime was a case of live by the sword, die by the sword.
put to the sword
6kill many in violent attack
To kill many people in a very violent way, especially during a war or attack.
- According to the chronicle, the town was put to the sword after it refused to surrender.
- The movie showed the village being put to the sword by the invading army.
- Entire communities were put to the sword in the ancient campaign.
sword of Damocles
7constant serious threat above you
A very serious danger that is always there and can happen at any time, making someone feel worried all the time.
- For many workers, the sword of Damocles is the threat of sudden job cuts.
- The possibility of war hangs over the region like a sword of Damocles.
- The court case was a sword of Damocles over his political career.
the pen is mightier than the sword
1writing is more powerful than violence
Words and ideas can change people more than fighting can.
- He believes the pen is mightier than the sword when it comes to political change.
- The movement showed that the pen is mightier than the sword.
the pen is mightier than the sword
2ideas stronger than violence
Writing and ideas can change people and the world more than fighting and violence can.
- She became a journalist because she believes the pen is mightier than the sword.
- The protest stayed peaceful to show that the pen is mightier than the sword.
- In his speech, he reminded the crowd that the pen is mightier than the sword in the long run.