Call the shots

[0859] Take no prisoners

🎲 Lay down the law
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • To act with extreme ruthlessness, aggression, and determination in pursuing a goal.
  • To show no mercy or compromise towards opponents or obstacles.

Origin

  • A literal military command meaning not to capture enemy combatants alive (as prisoners of war) but to kill them instead.
  • This indicated an intention to fight with maximum ferocity and decisiveness, leaving no room for surrender or negotiation. Figuratively, it means pursuing a goal with that same level of uncompromising intensity.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • Be ruthless
  • Show no mercy
  • Go for the jugular (Attack the most vital or vulnerable point)
  • Play hardball (Be tough and uncompromising, especially in negotiations)
  • Be relentless

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • Go hard / Go all out
  • Be savage (Modern slang: ruthless, coolly brutal, often admiringly)
  • Not playing (around) (Being very serious and determined)

Vulgar/Emphatic:

  • Not fucking around
  • Go scorched earth (Destroy everything, leave nothing for the opponent)
  • Show no fucking mercy

Milder:

  • Be uncompromising
  • Adopt a highly competitive stance
  • Pursue goals aggressively

Situational Appropriateness

  • Generally informal to semi-formal. Common in contexts like sports, business competition, politics, or intense negotiations.
  • The inherent aggression means it can be inappropriate in sensitive or collaborative settings. Use judiciously.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • Almost always used figuratively. Non-native speakers must understand it refers to extreme determination and ruthlessness in achieving a goal, not literal violence or killing.

Examples

  • Our team went into the final match ready to take no prisoners.
  • The new CEO has a take-no-prisoners approach to cutting costs. (Used as an adjective)
  • During the debate, the candidate took no prisoners, attacking her opponent relentlessly.

Dialogue

Manager A: How are we approaching the negotiations with the competitor?

Manager B: The board wants us to take no prisoners. Secure the best possible deal, be aggressive, don't concede easily.

Manager A: Okay, understood. A take-no-prisoners strategy it is. Let's prepare our strongest arguments.

Social Media Examples

  • Tweet: Our debate team is heading to nationals! Ready to take no prisoners! Wish us luck! #DebateLife #Competition
  • Sports News Headline: Coach says team will 'take no prisoners' in championship game.
  • Forum Comment (Gaming): Went into that final boss fight determined to take no prisoners. Finally beat it!

Response Patterns

  • Often met with awe or apprehension: Wow, sounds intense!, They're really serious!, That's ruthless!
  • Sometimes concern: Isn't that a bit extreme?

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

After hearing about a take-no-prisoners approach:

  • Asking for details: What exactly does that involve?, What are they planning to do?
  • Discussing the potential outcomes or ethics of such an approach.

Conversation Starter

  • No. Describes an attitude or strategy within a specific competitive context.

Intonation

  • Strong emphasis often on take, no, and prisoners.
  • The tone is typically intense, aggressive, or highly determined.
  • They plan to TAKE NO PRISONERS.

Generation Differences

  • Widely understood across generations, especially in competitive contexts.

Regional Variations

  • Common in major English-speaking regions.
Call the shots
🎲 Lay down the law