hold to ransom
Coerce for money
To hold someone to ransom is to demand payment or concessions by threatening harm—originally kidnapping a person until money is paid, now often figurative.
A union might hold a company to ransom by threatening to strike during peak season.
The phrase implies coercion through leverage: Energy companies hold consumers to ransom every winter.
British; Americans prefer "hold for ransom."
- kidnapSeize and detain illegally
- hostage situationCrisis involving held captives
- blackmailCoercion through damaging threats
- threatenPromise harm or punishment
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
make demands · hostage-taking · duress · ultimatum · forced hand · captivity · behind bars · demand · pay up · extortion · highway robbery · leverage · compel · constraint · intimidation · seize · detain · pressure