What does it mean to throw yourself on the sword?

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: To commit suicide by allowing one's body to drop onto the point of one's sword. (idiomatic, by extension) To resign from a job or other position of responsibility, especially when pressured to do so. quotations ▼
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What does throw yourself on the sword mean?

To fall on one's sword means to take responsibility for something that has gone wrong, in particular, to resign from one's position as a way to acknowledge responsibility for something that has gone wrong. The term took on this meaning sometime in the latter half of the twentieth century.
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What does running on a sword mean?

To run oneself upon one's sword has been the idiom in English for over 600 years. It is also used figuratively to mean "to resign (following disgrace.)"
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What does it mean to put something to the sword?

(idiomatic) To execute, especially by using a sword. (idiomatic) To severely defeat.
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What is meant by Stick to your guns?

Hold fast to a statement, opinion, or course of action, as in The witness stuck to her guns about the exact time she was there. This expression, originally put as stand to one's guns, alluded to a gunner remaining by his post. Its figurative use dates from the mid-1800s.
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The Sword THROW Re-Visited: How Practical is it Really?



What is the meaning of the idiom to bury the hatchet?

To agree to end a quarrel: “Jerry and Cindy had been avoiding each other since the divorce, but I saw them together this morning, so they must have buried the hatchet.”
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Who threw themselves on a sword?

Women of the samurai class also committed ritual suicide, called jigai, but, instead of slicing the abdomen, they slashed their throats with a short sword or dagger. There were two forms of seppuku: voluntary and obligatory.
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What does it mean to fall on the sword?

Definition of 'fall on one's sword'

a. to resign from one's position as a result of failure, wrongdoing, etc. b. old-fashioned. to use one's sword to take one's own life.
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Who falls on their sword?

fall on (one's) sword

To accept the responsibility or blame for a problem or mistake. Likened to the former practice of a soldier using his sword to take his own life for such a misdeed. The CEO fell on his sword when widespread corruption in the company was exposed.
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Who fell on his own sword in the Bible?

1 Samuel 31 1

Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me." But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
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Why did Romans fall on their swords?

In ancient Greece and Rome

As a mark of respect it was generally reserved for aristocrats sentenced to death; the victims would either drink hemlock or fall on their swords. Economic motivations prompted some suicides in ancient Rome. A person who was condemned to death would forfeit property to the government.
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What is meant by Damocles sword?

Definition of sword of Damocles

: an impending disaster.
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What is the female version of seppuku?

The jigai ritual is the feminine counterpart of seppuku (well-known as harakiri), the ritual suicide of samurai warriors, which was carried out by a deep slash into the abdomen. In contrast to seppuku, jigai can be performed without assistance, which was fundamental for seppuku.
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Do samurai still exist?

Although samurai no longer exist, the influence of these great warriors still manifests itself deeply in Japanese culture and samurai heritage can be seen all over Japan - be it a great castle, a carefully planned garden, or beautifully preserved samurai residences.
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How did soldiers fall on their swords?

fall on one's sword

In the era when warriors carried swords and shields, a soldier who was guilty of cowardice or another serious breach of military procedure was expected to do the “honorable thing” by taking his own life.
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What does bigger fish to fry mean in English?

informal. to have something more important to do. Being important and having importance. bulk.
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What is breaking the ice?

To remove the tension at a first meeting, at the opening of a party, etc.: “That joke really broke the ice at the conference; we all relaxed afterward.”
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What does to ride the high horse mean?

Definition of high horse

: an arrogant and unyielding mood or attitude.
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What does stick to your ribs mean?

If you describe food as sticking to your ribs, you mean that it makes you feel like you have eaten a lot. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Not pleasant to eat or drink. (as) tough as old boots idiom. acrid.
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What does I'm gunning for mean?

informal. to often criticize someone or be trying to cause trouble for them: She's been gunning for me ever since I got the promotion she wanted.
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What is the meaning of she blew her top?

to become very angry. When her flight was cancelled she blew her top.
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What is the meaning of the phrase dark horse?

A dark horse is a previously less known person or thing that emerges to prominence in a situation, especially in a competition involving multiple rivals, or a contestant that on paper should be unlikely to succeed but yet still might.
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What is the meaning of the idiom a dark horse?

a person who is not expected to succeed in or unexpectedly wins an election, race, or other competition: a dark horse in the primaries.
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