pound of flesh (redirected from owe someone a pound of flesh)

*pound of flesh

Fig. a payment or punishment that involves suffering and sacrifice on the part of the person being punished. (*Typically: give someone ~; owe someone ~; pay someone ~; take ~.) He wants revenge. He won't be satisfied until he takes his pound of flesh.

See also: flesh, pound

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your pound of flesh

if someone demands their pound of flesh, they make someone give them something that they owe them, although they do not need it and it will cause problems for the other person

Usage notes: This phrase comes from Shakespeare's play, The Merchant of Venice.

His boss, demanding his pound of flesh, made him come into work even though his daughter was seriously ill.

See also: flesh, pound