sword

cross swords (with someone)

Fig. to become the adversary of someone. Gloria loved an argument and was looking forward to crossing swords with Sally.

See also: cross

fall on one's sword 

1. Lit. to fall down and be penetrated by one's own sword, accidentally or on purpose. He tripped and fell on his sword.

2. Fig. to accept defeat; to go to extremes to indicate one's defeat. (From the ancient practice of a military commander committing suicide this way rather than being captured.) So, because I lost the contract, I am supposed to fall on my sword or something?

See also: fall

Live by the sword, die by the sword.

Prov. If you use violence against other people, you can expect to have violence used against you.; You can expect to become a victim of whatever means you use to get what you want. (Biblical.) The gang leader who organized so many murders was eventually murdered himself. Live by the sword, die by the sword. Bill liked to spread damaging gossip about other people, until he lost all his friends because of some gossip that was spread about him. Live by the sword, die by the sword.

See also: die, live

pen is mightier than the sword

Prov. Eloquent writing persuades people better than military force. Believing that the pen is mightier than the sword, the rebels began publishing an underground newspaper. Alan: Why do you want to become a journalist? Bill: The pen is mightier than the sword.

See also: mighty, pen

two-edged sword and double-edged sword

Fig. something that offers both a good and bad consequence. The ability to get your insurance to pay for it is a double-edged sword. They may raise your rates. Her authority in the company is a two-edged sword. She makes more enemies than allies.

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a double-edged sword

something that causes both advantages and problems His great intelligence was a real double-edged sword because he never felt he could communicate with ordinary people.

a sword of Damocles hangs over somebody's head  (literary) also a sword of Damocles hangs over somebody (literary)

if a sword of Damocles hangs over someone, they are in a situation where something bad is likely to happen to them very soon

Usage notes: This phrase comes from a story about Damocles who had to eat his food with a sword hanging over him which was tied up by a single hair.

You live with this sword of Damocles hanging over your head, knowing that you carry the virus for a deadly disease.

See also: hang, head

beat/turn swords into ploughshares  (formal)

to stop preparing for war and to start using the money you previously spent on weapons to improve people's lives It would have been unrealistic to expect a country like the United States to turn swords into ploughshares the moment the Cold War ended.

See cross swords with

See also: beat

cross swords with somebody

to argue with someone We don't always agree, in fact I've crossed swords with her several times at committee meetings.

See also: cross

The pen is mightier than the sword.  (formal)

something that you say which means thinking and writing have more influence on people and events than the use of force or violence Reason is our greatest weapon against such tyrants. The pen is mightier than the sword.

See also: mighty, pen

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cross swords (with somebody) (slightly formal)

to argue with someone The candidates crossed swords on several issues, including taxes, guns and immigration.

See also: cross