Surgeons performing an operation
Today's Phrase
To go under the knife means to have an operation.
Examples:
England's best footballer won't play at the World Cup. He's going under the knife and won't recover in time for the start of the tournament.
I had tonsillitis eight times before doctors decided that I needed to go under the knife and have my tonsils removed.
Take note
Don't confuse this expression with put to the sword. That phrase means to kill something.
Example:
The captured soldiers should have been kept in a military prison but instead they were put to the sword. Hundreds were killed.
Interesting fact
Human beings have been using knives for at least 2.5 million years. They were originally made from rock, bone and flint.
