holding hostage
Detaining for ransom
Holding hostage is keeping someone captive to compel others to meet demands—typically ransom, political concessions, or safe passage: The militants are holding three journalists hostage.
Figuratively, anything that traps you in a situation holds you hostage: We're being held hostage by outdated software.
The phrase emphasizes the coercive leverage of the captor over those who want the hostage released.
- captorOne who seizes another
- debt trapSelf-perpetuating financial burden
- ultimatumNon-negotiable final terms
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- prisonerConfined criminal detainee
human shield · kidnapper · at gunpoint · abduction · behind enemy lines · Stockholm syndrome · emotional blackmail · intimidation · captivity · duress · detention · leverage · bargaining chip · high stakes · concession · ransom · ransom demand · demand
holding hostagereleasing
Allowing to escape
liberating · setting free · freeing · letting go · emancipating
holding, hostage, hold, holds, holder, holders, beholden, behold, beheld