to ransom

Examples

• All

• Why, I'm going to hold the nations of the world to ransom, what else?

  Fiction book (1996)

• Holding the city to ransom is still seen as an indicator of political might and popularity.

  Blog text (19)

• And who exactly are we going to ransom him off to?

  Raising Buchanan (2019)

• You better ransom your heart

  Rock of Ages (2012)

• Should you respond in in turn or should you ransom your father first?

  Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

• I begged them to ransom me, but no.

• "Maybe we're both wrong, Mallory, and your government will ransom you."

  Fiction book (1996)

• Mr Biles, these men are holding us to ransom.

  Britannia Hospital (1982)

• The marauders hold to ransom several coastal towns and steadily amass a treasure in pieces of eight, gold necklaces and chains, and silver sword handles and plate.

  Academic text (2002)

• The criminals demanded a large sum of money to ransom the kidnapped businessman.

Synonyms

R

to redeem

vsto ransom

• Specialized

14 5.4

Pay off a debt or buy back something by making a payment

is done under threat to obtain the release of someone or something

Antonyms

D

to detain

• Formal

169 5.9

To keep someone with the police for questioning

Idioms

K

king's ransom

• Informal

3 7.5

A very large amount of money or something very valuable

Compounds

R

ransom money

11 4.4

Money paid or asked to free a kidnapped person

How Large

to ransom

8 6.6

tribute

• Archaic

61 6.3

payment

805 1.0

token payment

1 4.0

Surface Forms

Etymology