scabbard

(draw the sword and) throw away the scabbard

old-fashioned To approach or prepare for a conflict or military engagement with no intention of resolving it peacefully. We've seen the effects of having a leader who draws the sword and throws away the scabbard—that's the reason we've been in this war for nearly two decades. It won't benefit anyone if you throw away the scabbard as you head into this legal battle.
See also: away, scabbard, sword, throw
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

throw away the scabbard

abandon all thought of making peace.
This expression derives from the proverb he who draws his sword against his prince must throw away the scabbard . It implies that the person in question has no choice but to fight
See also: away, scabbard, throw
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • (draw the sword and) throw away the scabbard
  • fashion
  • milk and water
  • milk-and-water
  • an old fogey/fogy
  • rain pitchforks
  • a stuffed shirt
  • (Well,) I'll be durned!
  • a bit of crackling
References in periodicals archive
'The scabbard that was found did not contain any fingerprint.
Paranaque City court acquits suspects in Ram Revilla slay
A: Over the years, Galco's Concealable Belt Holster (CBH) has become my favorite outside-the-waistband scabbard. Perfectly designed, beautifully made, and superbly comfortable, it carries heavy, full-size, steel-frame 1911s as if they're part of your body.
Galco Concealable Belt Holster?
It is believed a scabbard, or holster for a knife, was recovered.
Inquiries go on into the weekend stabbings of men
Also recovered from Villena were a kitchen knife with scabbard and a cellphone.
Batangas police seize P340K worth of shabu
Recovered from the teen's possession was a 14-inch bolo with a wooden scabbard, and one plastic bottle containing suspected rugby.
Teenager involved in melee rescued
US PeaceKeeper's SHOTGUN SCABBARD accommodates a shotgun with a flashlight mount.
US PEACEKEEPER
He crafted a high-ride scabbard with 15-degree forward tilt with two levels of retention to handle open or concealed carry assignments.
A POLICE HANDGUN: "IN THE MIDDLE"
The find includes two extremely rare cavalry swords - one of them complete, still with its wooden scabbard, hilt and pommel - and two wooden toy swords.
Winning the archaeological lottery of finds; HAUL OF ROMAN ARTEFACTS FOUND AT VINDOLANDA
While excavating the material from the corner of one of the living rooms, the tip of a thin and sharp iron blade was found resting in its wooden scabbard. Further work revealed the whole sword.
Rare find at Roman fort like 'winning the lottery'
Prior to the Russian annexation, the museums in 2014 lent to the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam around 1,000 objects, which included jewels, a golden scabbard and gold sculptures.
Ukraine in row with Crimean museums over art treasures
The mainland population was collected from Scabbard Lake and Marsh Lake, in Northern Minnesota.
Population genetic divergence of Isle Royale Pearl Dace, Margarita margariscus (Cyprinidae)
The hoard of two sword blade fragments, a scabbard fitting and a multi-edged knife, all of bronze, and six copper ingot fragments are thought to be dated to the Late Bronze Age (around 1000-800 BC or 3,000-2,800 years ago).
Bronze Age artefacts declared as treasure by coroner
The Speed Scabbard has been in DeSantis' line almost from the beginning and was exactly what I was looking for--a simple belt holster with no thumb break that can be worn either vertically or with a forward (FBI) cant.
Need for speed: Desantis' Speed Scabbard looks good and works good
Even the scabbard of the sword was decorated with gold and precious stones.
Auction raises cautionary concerns: authenticity of 'Sword of Maharaja Ranjit Singh' challenged
When Santorum entered the fray for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, he drew his sword and threw away the scabbard. The stakes could not, he thought, be higher, so he was in for the long haul.
Santorum not fading away