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Definition:
b) to show no mercy
German translation:
give no quarter = keine Gnade kennen
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GOOGLE INDEX
give no quarter: approximately 50,000 Google hits
Sample text:
Bank GIVES NO QUARTER to debtors
(The Guardian)
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The US secretary of state asks Latin American countries to GIVE NO QUARTER to terrorist groups.
(BBC News)
Did you know?
give no quarter
idiom
- to show no mercy or forgiveness
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WORD ORIGIN
The word quarter, from the Latin "quartarius" or fourth part, has a long and lively history. One of the earliest usages for instance was in medieval England where the penalty for high treason was to be "drawn, hanged and quartered." This meant a person was taken to a place of execution on a wooden frame (drawn), hanged by the neck and then the main body parts were cut off (the arms and legs, thus into four pieces or "quarters").
Over the centuries it took on less brutal meanings such as:
- one of the four phases of the moon (new, first quarter, full, last quarter)
- four equal periods of playing time in which some games are divided in sports (They scored 20 points in the second quarter)
- a U.S. or Canadian coin equal to one fourth of a dollar (The parking metre only accepts quarters)
- a district or section of a city (The French Quarter in New Orleans)
- a place of residence, especially for the military
- mercy, particularly toward an enemy
One theory regarding the origin of "give no quarter" relates to the last two definitions. It may stem from the idea that the enemy should be killed instead of taken prisoner and provided shelter (quarters). In other words, show no mercy. This also relates to a similar expression to "take no prisoners."
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SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION:
"I asked for more time to finish the report but he gave no quarter, it must be ready by tomorrow."
Thanks to Thorsten for suggesting today's word!
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And now...
Today's Learning Tip (9):
GERMAN-ENGLISH FLASHCARDS
The well-known technique of writing each word on a single card is a useful, transportable learning help. Write the German translation on the reverse side.
more learning tips
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