Take no prisoners

Take no prisoners is the order to kill all enemies encountered, even those who are wounded or surrendering. It is now considered an international war crime.

Originally used in the military warfare is not a common command today. However, fighting so that there are none left to surrender or so that people are killed rather than wounded would be a "take no prisoners" style of warfare that is not technically illegal.

'"Take no prisoners" style indicates viewing the world in two-dimensional terms. There is no third dimension where mercy can be dealt. Instead, there is merely forward active aggression from which no one is spared. Mitigating circumstances, as in warfare, of injury or surrender do not exist in the "take no prisoners" mindset.

Common and similar uses

• A similar expression to “take no prisoners” is the British military term of “giving no quarter.” Essentially quarter might mean quarters or living arrangements for prisoners. Thus giving no quarter can be specifically connected to the phrase “take no prisoners.”^{[citation needed]}

• Shoot to kill - a similar expression implying the explicit authorization of military and especially police units is to use weapons to kill targeted persons rather than to maim or disable such persons. It does not however imply a negation of taking prisoners but does similarly imply that the use of deadly force is necessary to be used.

• In modern usage, “take no prisoners” is used in a political sense, referring a person’s political approach, styles of written and visual arts, and speaking abilities. A politician who delivers an aggressive and vindictive speech against an opposing party might be considered to have a “take no prisoners” attitude.

• A book that includes extremely graphic violence might be written in a “take no prisoners” style, which does not spare the reader any details.

• It could also reflect on a person’s parenting abilities, or one's lifestyle. A parent who punishes all children for the misbehavior of one child might be adopting a “take no prisoners” approach.

• This too may be translated in modern day as being aggressive.

Sport

• Take No Prisoners (2008), a professional wrestling event held by Ring of Honor
  • Take No Prisoners (2009)

Music

• Take No Prisoners (David Byron album)
• Take No Prisoners (Molly Hatchet album)
• Live: Take No Prisoners, an album by Lou Reed
• "Take No Prisoners", a song by Megadeth from their fourth album Rust In Peace

Video games

• Take No Prisoners (video game), a computer game by Raven Software