Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
hold-to-ransom
phrase
/hoʊld tə ˈrænsəm/
Definition
To capture someone or something and demand a payment or concession in exchange for their freedom.
Examples
- The pirates decided to hold the ship’s crew to ransom.
- After the kidnapping, the family received a call from the abductors demanding they hold the child to ransom.
- The hackers claim to hold the company’s sensitive data to ransom unless they receive a large sum of money.
Meaning
This phrase refers to the act of taking someone captive or a situation where someone refuses to release a person or object until a payment is made.
Synonyms
- Kidnap for ransom
- Take hostage
- Extort
