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

War crime

War crimes are serious violations of the laws applicable in armed conflict giving rise to individual criminal responsibility...

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Originally used in the military

Military

A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...

 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.”

• 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
  Graphic violence
  Graphic violence is the depiction of especially vivid, brutal and realistic acts of violence in visual media such as literature, film, television, and video games...
  
   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
  Collective punishment
  Collective punishment is the punishment of a group of people as a result of the behavior of one or more other individuals or groups. The punished group may often have no direct association with the other individuals or groups, or direct control over their actions...
  
   might be adopting a “take no prisoners” approach.

• This too may be translated in modern day as being aggressive
  Aggressive
  “Aggressive” is a New York-based Grammy award-winning music video and commercial directing team of Alex Topaller and Daniel Shapiro.Aggressive has been described by Movie Creation Mag as “having a fascination with the wonderful, in the likes of the surrealist Rafal Olbinski” and “tenacious about...
  
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Sport

• Take No Prisoners (2008), a professional wrestling event held by Ring of Honor
  • Take No Prisoners (2009)
    Take No Prisoners (2009)
    Take No Prisoners was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by Ring of Honor. It took place on April 4, 2009 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas, and aired on pay-per-view on June 12, 2009...
    
    

Music

• Take No Prisoners (David Byron album)
  Take No Prisoners (David Byron album)
  Take No Prisoners is the debut solo album of British rock singer David Byron. It was released whilst he was still vocalist for Uriah Heep and features Heep bandmates Mick Box and Lee Kerslake.-Track listing:...
  
  
• Take No Prisoners (Molly Hatchet album)
  Take No Prisoners (Molly Hatchet album)
  Take No Prisoners is the fourth studio album by American southern rock band Molly Hatchet, released in 1981 . This is the second and last studio album released with lead singer Jimmy Farrar and the last one with original bass player Banner Thomas, who left the band in 1982.-Track listing:#"Bloody...
  
  
• Live: Take No Prisoners
  Live: Take No Prisoners
  Live: Take No Prisoners is Lou Reed's third live album. Released in 1978, it was Reed's contribution to the double live album era. It was recorded at the Bottom Line in New York, and there is no overdubbing...
  
  , an album by Lou Reed
  Lou Reed
  Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
  
  
• "Take No Prisoners", a song by Megadeth
  Megadeth
  Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
  
   from their fourth album Rust In Peace
  Rust in Peace
  Rust in Peace is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth. Released on September 24, 1990, it was the third Megadeth album distributed through Capitol Records. The album was the band's only collaboration with record producer Mike Clink who was the first producer to...
  
  

Video games

• Take No Prisoners (video game)
  Take No Prisoners (video game)
  Take No Prisoners is a computer game released in 1997. It was based on the Vampire engine, developed by Raven Software, along with Mageslayer. The engine provides a top-down view with NPC and props being sprites. The score was composed by Kevin Schilder.- Plot :The whole game is set in San...
  
  , a computer game by Raven Software