Last Updated：2025/11/22

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: To commit suicide by allowing one’s body to drop onto the point of one's sword.

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fall on one's sword

Source Word

fall on one's sword

Verb

broadly idiomatic

Japanese Meaning

文字通り、刀の刃に向かって身を投じることで自殺する行為

古い年代記には、辱めを受けた侍が捕縛を避けるために刀の先に身を投じて自殺したことが時々記されている。

Sense（1）

Sense（2）

(idiomatic, by extension) To resign from a job or other position of responsibility, especially when pressured to do so.

Sense（3）

(idiomatic) To voluntarily take the blame for a situation.

The bemedaled Marine refused to fall on his sword and take full blame for the scandal.

falls on one's sword

（ present singular third-person ）

falling on one's sword

（ participle present ）

fell on one's sword

（ past ）

fallen on one's sword

（ participle past ）