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hold to ransom

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hold someone to ransom

to force someone to do something by putting them in a situation where something bad will happen to them if they do not. Some people regarded the miners' strike as the union holding the nation to ransom.

See also: hold, ransom

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hold promise
hold sway
hold the fort
hold the key
hold the line
hold the purse strings
hold to

hold to ransom
hold tongue
hold up
hold water
hold with
hold/keep at arm's length
hold/keep end up
hold/keep in check

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