ransom
['rænt.səm] noun countable or uncountable
■a large sum of money which is demanded in exchange for someone who has been taken prisoner, or sometimes for an animal 赎金•a ransom demand/note索要赎金／勒索赎金的字条 •They demanded a huge ransom for the return of the little girl whom they had kidnapped.他们索要钜额赎金作为放回被绑小女孩的条件。 •The gang held the racehorse to/for ransom.这个犯罪集团扣留了赛马，以此勒索赎金。
['rænt.səm] noun countable or uncountable
hold sb to ransom
■to force someone to do something by putting them in a situation where something bad will happen if they do not 要挟（某人）；胁迫（某人）•The government says it is being held to ransom by the actions of terrorist groups.政府称，恐怖组织采取的行动是在要挟政府陷于投鼠忌器的境地。
['rænt.səm] verb transitive
■to pay money in order to set someone free （付钱）赎（人），赎出，赎回•Her father ransomed her for a million dollars.她父亲用100万美元把她赎了出来。 |