ransom
Word family adjectiveransomableransomlessnounransomerransom
ran·som1 /ˈrænsəm/ noun [countableC]1 SCan amount of money that is paid to free someone who is held as a prisoner 〔爲使被囚者獲釋而支付的〕贖金The kidnappers were demanding a ransom of $250,000. 綁匪索取25萬美元的贖金。
The government refused to pay the ransom. 政府拒絕交付贖金。
ransom demand/noteThere has still been no ransom demand. 現在還沒有人索要贖金。
He’s got the ransom money. 他得到了贖金。
2 hold somebody for ransom (also hold somebody to ransom British EnglishBrE) to keep someone prisoner until money is paid 囚禁某人以索取贖金His daughter was kidnapped and held for ransom. 他的女兒遭綁架索要贖金。
3 hold somebody to ransom British EnglishBrE to put someone in a situation where they have no choice and are forced to agree to your demands 要挾某人,脅迫某人He has accused the nurses of holding the government to ransom by threatening to strike. 他指責護士以罷工來要挾政府。
demanding ... ransom• Note from Heron's Liberation Front demanding ransom for return of Gnome.• We are used to evil men demanding a ransom before their victim can be released. ransom2 verb [transitiveT]SCto pay an amount of money so that someone who is being held as a prisoner is set free 爲…交付贖金They were all ransomed and returned unharmed. 付了贖金之後,他們都毫發無損地回來了。
ransom• They were all ransomed and returned unharmed.• North, carefully distracting Livingstone from the thought that hostages might have been ransomed for arms, gave him the Whole Picture.• We know that many among ourselves have given themselves to bondage that they might ransom others. Origin ransom1 (1200-1300) Old French rançon, from
Latin redemptio;
→ REDEMPTION