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Take No Prisoners

Sometimes you hear someone described as having a “take no prisoners attitude.” I always thought this meant they were generous — heck, they aren’t taking any prisoners, that’s nice of them. It turns out — and I learned this only today on Bunny Watson — that when you “take no prisoners” it means that you kill everyone. Which isn’t very nice at all.

Learn more from the Waramps.

Sunday, May 22, 2005 - 3:32pm
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Comments

paul's picture
paul on May 22, 2005
Tales of a misspent youth, I guess: I knew that. I mean, if they weren’t taking prisoners, what else would they do with them? This seems to be Pete’s week to reveal gaps in his knowledge: I wait with bated breath to see what comes up next.
Peter's picture
Peter on May 22, 2005
How about how I thought that the word “awry” was pronounced “ow - ree.”
Zach's picture
Zach on July 21, 2010

No mercy, being very harsh, is the meaning, I like Give no quarter better.

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