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Glite Dictionary
live by the sword, die by the sword

live by the sword, die by the sword

8.3
People who use violence are likely to die violently
  • idiom
translation icon : quien a hierro mata, a hierro muere
  • The mafia boss's end was a classic case of live by the sword, die by the sword.

Examples

  • It's a harsh truth in that world: those who live by the sword, die by the sword.

  • You live by the sword, die by the sword.

  • He always warned his friends that if you live by the sword, die by the sword, so they should be careful.

  • Don't live by the sword, die by the sword!

  • In a world of crime and violence, it's true that if you live by the sword, die by the sword.

  • The violent gang leader learned the hard way that you live by the sword, die by the sword when he faced a deadly betrayal.

  • After years of ruthless dealings, he finally understood the saying: live by the sword, die by the sword.

Synonyms

woe to
vslive by the sword, die by the sword
  • Archaic
1 9.6

A warning that someone may get into trouble if they do something

warns about violent or ruthless behaviour leading to violent personal consequences
woe betide
vslive by the sword, die by the sword
  • Archaic
9.9

Bad things will happen to anyone who does that

warns specifically about violent or ruthless living causing violent consequences

Antonyms

peacefully
149 1.3

In a calm and quiet way without violence

Surface Forms

live by the sword, die by the sword main

Morphology

live + by + the + sword, + die + by + the + sword

The proverb's meaning is directly inferable from the parts: 'live by the sword' suggests living by violence or using weapons and 'die by the sword' predicts death caused by those same means. This causal/metaphorical extension is straightforward and cross-linguistically familiar, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can reasonably deduce the warning about violent or ruthless conduct leading to violent consequences.

Etymology

Live by the sword, die by the sword may come from the Bible and paints a clear picture. If you live by carrying a sword, you may die by one, so the phrase warns that 'those who live by violence will often be hurt or killed'.