Meaning of the Phrase "take no hostages"?

[Guido]

I've been googling but to no avail. I've seen it so often but I don't know what it means exactly.

[Dr. Dread]

Show no mercy. Kill everything in your path.

[Guido]

Cheers!

[Joe_Campbell]

"Take no prisoners" might generate more google hits. I think it's the more common form.

[secondwind]

In the movie Lawrence of Arabia I remember the phrase "No prisoners!" shouted as they rode into battle.  I figured out the meaning by what happened next!

[Scarpia]

Same thing as "show them no quarters."
'

"Show them no quarters" sounds like something shouted in the car on the Long Island Expresswaywhile approaching the toll booth.  "Show them no quarter," might be more apropos.

[DarkAngel]

I've been googling but to no avail. I've seen it so often but I don't know what it means exactly.

More commonly used phrase in USA is take no prisoners

It is a colorful figure of speech or slang term meaning to aggressively take action with any hesitation or 2nd thoughts

[Dr. Dread]

1. Lit. to kill the enemy rather than seize the enemy as prisoners. The soldiers' orders were to take no prisoners.

2. Fig. to be extremely ruthless with the opposition. The new manager takes no prisoners. He is ruthless and stern.

[Coopmv]

More commonly used phrase in USA is take no prisoners

It is a colorful figure of speech or slang term meaning to aggressively take action with any hesitation or 2nd thoughts

I found Take no prisoners means taking extreme action similar to Go for broke.  The latter is another expression that means to wager everything and a few films with such titles have been made.

[The new erato]

Same thing as "show them no quarters."
'

Definitely a far stronger statement than "show them no nickels" or  "show them no dimes".

[Scarpia]

Definitely a far stronger statement than "show them no nickels" or  "show them no dimes".

Sorry, beat you to that one (see above) .