put somebody to the swordto kill someone with a sword
put to the swordKILL, execute, put to death, murder, butcher, slaughter, massacre, cut down, slay
[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲
put to the sword v. phr.,
literary To kill (people) in war, especially with a sword.
The Romans put their enemies to the sword.
In some wars captives have been put to the sword. [TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲