ransom (redirected from ransomer)

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

a king's ransom

a very large amount of money. She was wearing a diamond necklace which must have been worth a king's ransom. (not used with the)

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a king's ransom

a large amount of money. A visit to one of those amusement parks can cost a king's ransom.

Usage notes: often used with worth or cost, as in the example