put someone to the sword
US /pʊt ˈsʌmˌwʌn tu ðə sɔrd/
UK /pʊt ˈsʌmˌwʌn tu ðə sɔrd/

1.
passar a fio de espada, matar com a espada
to kill someone, especially with a sword or other sharp weapon
:
•
The invading army threatened to put the entire village to the sword.
O exército invasor ameaçou passar toda a aldeia a fio de espada.
•
In ancient times, defeated enemies were often put to the sword.
Nos tempos antigos, inimigos derrotados eram frequentemente passados a fio de espada.