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MWtake-no-prisoners

take-no-prisoners

Flag: gbEnglishMerriam-Webster Dictionary

href='x-mw://lookup/transitive' class='vd'>transitive ​verb
  • to treat (someone) in a cruel, insulting, threatening, or aggressive fashion to act like a bully toward //bullied their younger sibling
  • to cause (someone) to do something by means of force or coercion //was bullied into accepting their offer
  • intransitive ​verb
  • to use language or behavior that is cruel, insulting, threatening, or aggressive
  • adjective

    Definition (Entry 3 of 4)

    • excellent —often used in interjectional expressions //bully for you
    • resembling or characteristic of a bully //his bully tricks
    noun (2)

    Definition (Entry 4 of 4)

    • food pickled or canned usually corned beef
    Examples
    Noun (1)
    • //the school has a procedure for students who want to report problems with bullies
    • //the local loan shark and his bullies have ways of making people pay up
    Verb
    • //He bullied his younger brothers.
    • //the kindergarten teacher explained why it was wrong to bully classmates
    Adjective
    • //that's a bully idea for reviving the town's retail center
    First Known Use
    Noun (1)
    circa 1548, in the meaning defined at sense 3a
    Verb
    1685, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
    Adjective
    1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1
    Noun (2)
    1753, in the meaning defined above
    History and Etymology
    Noun (1), Verb, and Adjective
    probably from Middle Dutch boele lover; akin to Middle Low German bōle lover, Middle High German buole
    Noun (2)
    probably modification of French (bœuf) boulli boiled beef
    bully
    adjective

    Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 3)

    take-no-prisoners — MW · Shobdo