hostage situation
Prisoners held captive
A hostage situation is a crisis in which people are held captive, typically by armed individuals making demands of authorities.
The term covers kidnappings, sieges, and standoffs where captives serve as leverage: Police negotiators were called to the hostage situation at the bank.
Figuratively, any scenario where someone feels trapped by another's demands: Living with her mother-in-law had become a hostage situation.
- ransom demandPayment required for captive
- victimOne harmed by another
- negotiatorOne who bargains professionally
- crisis negotiationResolving standoffs through communication
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
armed standoff · demands · psychological manipulation · safe passage · mediator · negotiation techniques · financial gain · SWAT team · tactical unit · proof of life · surrender · barricade · ultimatum · deadline · seizure · cornered · intelligence gathering · siege
- public alertsemergency broadcast, wireless alert, text alert, civil emergency, terror alert
- aviation threatshijacking, skyjacking, bomb threat, terrorism, explosive
- captivitycaptive, prisoner, detained, imprisoned, incarcerated
- High Stakesdo-or-die, do or die, make-or-break, make or break, life or death
- thriller tropesplot twist, red herring, cliffhanger, whodunit, femme fatale
- thrillerssuspense, thriller, nail-biter, page-turner, cliffhanger
hostage situationall-clear
Signal danger has passed
peaceful resolution · normalcy · public safety · peace · stability
hostage situationmutual agreement
Consent from all parties
diplomatic resolution · amicable settlement · open dialogue · mediation