hold hostage

hold (one) hostage

To keep one somewhere without their permission or consent, as in a robbery or similar situation. Yeah, but if the bank robbers start holding civilians hostage, we'll have a much bigger crisis on our hands. Once he revealed he had a gun on him, I knew he would either hold me hostage or kill me. They were holding me hostage—how exactly was I supposed to fight my way out?

See also: hold, hostage

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

hold someone hostage

to keep someone as a hostage. The terrorists planned to hold everyone hostage in the airplane. My neighbor was held hostage in his own home by a robber.

See also: hold, hostage

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.