ransom
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++ran·som1 /ˈrænsəm/ noun [countable] 1 SCan amount of money that is paid to free someone who is held as a prisoner 〔为使被囚者获释而支付的〕赎金 The kidnappers were demanding a ransom of $250,000. 绑匪索取25万美元的赎金。 The government refused to pay the ransom. 政府拒绝交付赎金。ransom demand/note There has still been no ransom demand. 现在还没有人索要赎金。 He’s got the ransom money. 他得到了赎金。2 hold somebody for ransom (also hold somebody to ransom British English) to keep someone prisoner until money is paid 囚禁某人以索取赎金 His daughter was kidnapped and held for ransom. 他的女儿遭绑架索要赎金。3 hold somebody to ransom British English to put someone in a situation where they have no choice and are forced to agree to your demands 要挟某人，胁迫某人 He has accused the nurses of holding the government to ransom by threatening to strike. 他指责护士以罢工来要挟政府。
Examples from the Corpus
ransom• Note from Heron's Liberation Front demanding ransom for return of Gnome.• But dead men paid no ransoms.• I read the appeal in the newspapers for Madame V to come forward, but they said nothing about abduction or ransom.• But sometimes I want to be pampered like royalty - without having to pay a king's ransom.• It wouldn't matter if you'd been promised a king's ransom if you achieved a lucky jump to the scorpion.• After the families of the two men were contacted, the ransom was upped to $ 1 million.• Maybe the scarred man had suspected something and wanted a cut of the ransom.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 [transitive] SCto pay an amount of money so that someone who is being held as a prisoner is set free 为…交付赎金 They were all ransomed and returned unharmed. 付了赎金之后，他们都毫发无损地回来了。→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
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; → REDEMPTIONran·som1 nounransom2 verbChineseSyllable
amount someone who free is money an Corpus of to that paid
ransom
ran‧som1 /ˈrænsəm/ 
noun [countable]1. an amount of money that is paid to free someone who is held as a prisoner:
The kidnappers were demanding a ransom of $250,000.
The government refused to pay the ransom.
ransom demand/note
There has still been no ransom demand.
He’s got the ransom money.
2. hold somebody for ransom (also hold somebody to ransom British English) to keep someone prisoner until money is paid:
His daughter was kidnapped and held for ransom.
3. hold somebody to ransom British English to put someone in a situation where they have no choice and are forced to agree to your demands:
He has accused the nurses of holding the government to ransom by threatening to strike.
ransom2 verb [transitive]
to pay an amount of money so that someone who is being held as a prisoner is set free:
They were all ransomed and returned unharmed.
| I |
noun [countable]1. an amount of money that is paid to free someone who is held as a prisoner: ransom demand/note
2. hold somebody for ransom (also hold somebody to ransom British English) to keep someone prisoner until money is paid:
3. hold somebody to ransom British English to put someone in a situation where they have no choice and are forced to agree to your demands:
| II |
verb [transitive]to pay an amount of money so that someone who is being held as a prisoner is set free:
