hold (one) 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.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 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.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.