ransom

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ran|som /r'ænsəm/ (ransoms ransoming ransomed)
1 [N-VAR]
A ransom is the money that has to be paid to someone so that they will set free a person they have kidnapped.
Her kidnapper successfully extorted a £175,000 ransom for her release...
2 [VERB] V n
If you ransom someone who has been kidnapped, you pay the money to set them free.
The same system was used for ransoming or exchanging captives.
3 [PHRASE] V inflects
If a kidnapper is holding someone to ransom or holding them ransom in British English, or is holding a person for ransom in American English, they keep that person prisoner until they are given what they want.
He is charged with kidnapping a businessman last year and holding him for ransom...
4 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that someone is holding you to ransom in British English, or holding you for ransom in American English, you mean that they are using their power to try to force you to do something which you do not want to do.
Unison and the other unions have the power to hold the Government to ransom.

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