live by the sword, die by the sword

live by the sword, die by the sword

1. Those who live a violent lifestyle will usually die a violent death. The young men of this city getting caught up in gang violence have the shortest lifespans of anyone in the state. You live by the sword, you die by the sword.
2. If you rely upon a certain means of doing something, especially that which is illegal or harmful to others, you are likely to have a negative outcome as a result thereof. For years the senator took bribes and skimmed profits from kickbacks all over his state, until finally the FBI put together a sting against him that ended up putting him away for life. Live by the sword, die by the sword.
See also: by, die, live, sword
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

Live by the sword, die by the sword.

Prov. If you use violence against other people, you can expect to have violence used against you.; You can expect to become a victim of whatever means you use to get what you want. (Biblical.) The gang leader who organized so many murders was eventually murdered himself. Live by the sword, die by the sword. Bill liked to spread damaging gossip about other people, until he lost all his friends because of some gossip that was spread about him. Live by the sword, die by the sword.
See also: by, die, live, sword
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • blood will have blood
  • he who lives by the sword dies by the sword
  • he who lives by the sword, dies by the sword
  • hail down
  • a no-go area
  • area
  • in no case
  • rouse (one) to (something)
  • ring (one's) bell
  • ring someone's bell
References in periodicals archive
Warmonger and gun-lover Trump would do well to heed the words of the old adage : those who live by the sword, die by the sword.
Troublesome Trump; SUNDAY SHOUT
You said: "Who live by the sword, die by the sword".
Face the facts..
He said: "I'm not dancing in the street, but frankly people who live by the sword, die by the sword. These things have a habit of coming back to bite you.
New financial crisis at Furniture Express
The enormous pain and losses that Saddam Hussein's war machine inflicted on innocent Iranians like Gilaneh is at once vindicated by the American bombs and repeated in all its horror "Live by the sword, die by the sword," comments one character gruffly.
Gilaneh
Live by the sword, die by the sword, remains their motto no matter how extensive the tinkering.
Denmark: Folly to write off Danish cavaliers
We also hear that old adage: "Those who live by the sword, die by the sword" when it comes to gubernatorial appointments.
Living by the sword. (Editorial)