ransom
gb/ɹˈænsəm/ us/ɹˈænsəm/
B2
Inglés
~ 8000
váltságdíj, kivált, váltságdíj ellenében szabadon enged, megváltás, váltság
SUSTANTIVO
B2
1
váltságdíj
B2
Patrón de uso:
to pay/demand [a] ransom for [someone/something]
The kidnappers demanded a ransom of two million dollars for the safe return of the child.
A gyermek biztonságos hazatéréséért az emberrablók kétmillió dollár váltságdíjat követeltek.
After weeks of negotiation, the company finally agreed to pay the ransom.
Hetekig tartó tárgyalás után a cég végül beleegyezett, hogy kifizeti a váltságdíjat.
Police advised the family not to respond to the ransom note until they arrived.
The government refused to pay a ransom for the captured soldiers.
She received a phone call with a clear ransom demand and instructions on where to bring the money.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
The gang asked for a high ransom.
A banda magas váltságdíjat követelt.
His parents paid the ransom and he came home.
A szülei kifizették a váltságdíjat, és ő hazajött.
The kidnapper sent a ransom note to the family.
The police told them not to pay the ransom.
The man was held for ransom for three days.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse "ransom" with "random" because they look similar, but the meanings are completely different. Another common mistake is using the wrong preposition, for example, saying *"a ransom of him"* instead of *"a ransom for him"*. Learners also sometimes say *"ask a ransom"* instead of the more natural *"ask for a ransom"* or *"demand a ransom"*.
Significado
money demanded or paid for release
Colocaciones
pay a ransom
|demand a ransom
|ask for ransom
|held for ransom
|ransom demand
|ransom note
Sinónimos
payoff (Often suggests secret or illegal payment, not always connected to kidnapping.)
|
extortion money (Emphasizes that the money is obtained by threats or force.)
Antónimos
release (Focuses on letting someone go free without any payment being required.)
|
rescue (Emphasizes saving someone from danger without paying the criminals.)
Temas
crime
|law
|money
|finance
Definición
Money that someone must pay to get a person or thing back after it is taken and held by another person or group.
Money or other payment that is demanded or paid to secure the release of a person, animal, or sometimes property that has been taken and is being held against their will.
VERBO
C1
2
Patrón de uso:
to ransom [someone/something] (for [amount])
The wealthy businessman ransomed his daughter for a reported sum of five million euros.
A gazdag üzletember a hírek szerint ötmillió euróért váltotta ki a lányát.
Local charities helped ransom several hostages who had been held for months.
Helyi jótékonysági szervezetek segítettek kiváltani több túszt, akiket hónapokig tartottak fogva.
They managed to ransom the captured workers before any of them were harmed.
The villagers pooled their savings to ransom the kidnapped doctor.
Negotiators hoped to ransom the hostages without encouraging future kidnappings.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
The family tried to ransom their son.
A család megpróbálta váltságdíjjal kiváltani a fiukat.
They ransomed the hostages after two weeks.
Két hét után kiváltották a túszokat.
He was ransomed for a large amount of money.
Her company helped ransom the kidnapped driver.
The town raised money to ransom the prisoners.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use "ransom" like "rescue" without the idea of payment, for example, *"The police ransomed the girl"*. In most modern use, if the police or army free someone without paying money, "rescue" is the better verb. Another mistake is using the passive with the wrong preposition, such as *"He was ransomed by money"* instead of *"He was ransomed for a large sum of money"*.
Significado
free someone by paying money
Colocaciones
ransom a hostage
|ransom the prisoners
|families ransomed their relatives
|ransom someone for [amount]
Sinónimos
redeem (Can mean to buy back or free by payment, but is more formal and also used in religious or moral contexts.)
|
free (General word for making someone free; does not by itself express that money is paid.)
Antónimos
kidnap (Describes taking someone away and holding them, often in order to demand ransom, which is the opposite of freeing them.)
|
abduct (Focuses on taking someone by force, the opposite direction of action from ransoming them.)
Temas
crime
|law
|money
|finance
Definición
To make a person or thing free again by paying money that someone asks for.
To cause someone or something to be released from being held captive or controlled by paying, or receiving, a ransom.
SUSTANTIVO
C2
LITERARY
3
Patrón de uso:
to be a ransom for [someone/something]
In the sermon, the priest spoke of Christ's death as a ransom for many.
A prédikációban a pap Krisztus haláláról mint sokakért adott váltságról beszélt.
The hero offers his own life as a ransom for his people.
A hős saját életét ajánlja fel váltságul a népéért.
They believed that no human action could provide a ransom for the soul.
The poem describes love as a ransom that frees the heart from fear.
According to the legend, the king's gold served as a ransom for the captured city.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
Some Christians see Jesus' death as a ransom for people.
Egyes keresztények Jézus halálát az emberek megváltásának tekintik.
In the story, the father gives his life as a ransom for his child.
A történetben az apa saját életét adja váltságul a gyermekéért.
They say no money can be a ransom for a bad life.
The writer uses the word "ransom" to talk about spiritual freedom.
The book tells of a god who pays a ransom for the world.
Error frecuente:
Learners may not realize this is a more literary or religious meaning and try to use it in everyday conversation about normal payments. It is better to keep this sense for religious or poetic texts and use the main money-related sense in ordinary situations.
Significado
deliverance or price paid for freedom
Colocaciones
a ransom for many
|pay the ultimate ransom
|the ransom of souls
Sinónimos
redemption (Common in religious and literary language for being saved or bought back, especially from sin or evil.)
|
atonement (Focuses more on making amends for wrongdoing, often through sacrifice.)
Antónimos
damnation (In religious contexts, describes being condemned rather than saved.)
|
bondage (Emphasizes ongoing captivity or slavery, the state from which ransom delivers someone.)
Temas
religion
|literature
|core_vocabulary
Definición
The act of saving someone from being a prisoner, in danger, or in sin by paying a price or giving something very important.
The act of freeing someone from captivity, severe penalty, or spiritual ruin by paying a cost or making a sacrifice; also, the cost or sacrifice itself, especially in religious or literary contexts.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
ransom
AFI
GB/ɹˈænsəm/
US/ɹˈænsəm/
Sílabas y acento
ransom (1 sílaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (ransom)
Formas de la palabra
Noun
- Base: ransom
- Plural: ransom, ransoms
Verb
- Base: ransom
- 3rd Person Singular: ransoms
- Present Participle: ransoming
- Past: ransomed
Familia de palabras
Forms
ransoms
noun
ransoming
verb
ransomed
verb
Related words
ransomware
noun C1
Expresiones
a king's ransom
1/ə kˈɪŋz ɹˈænsəm/
idiom
a very large amount of money
A very large amount of money, much more than most people normally have.
Ejemplos
- The painting is worth a king's ransom on today's market.
- He spent a king's ransom on that sports car.
- They offered her a king's ransom to join the rival company.
hold [someone] for ransom
1/hˈoʊld sˈʌmwˌʌn fɚ ɹˈænsəm/
fixed phrase
keep someone prisoner for money
To keep a person as a prisoner and say you will only let them go if money or something else is given.
Ejemplos
- The tourists were held for ransom by the armed group for nearly a month.
- Criminals threatened to hold the businessman for ransom if the police got involved.
- Several crew members were held for ransom after the ship was taken by pirates.
hold [something] ransom
1/hˈoʊld sˈʌmθɪŋ ɹˈænsəm/
fixed phrase
use something as pressure for demands
To control something important and say you will not let it be used or move forward until other people do what you want.
Ejemplos
- The opposition accused the small party of holding the budget ransom to win more funding for their region.
- Critics say the company is holding users' data ransom to force them to accept the new terms.
- The union refused to hold the whole city ransom during the negotiations.
kidnap for ransom
1/kˈɪdnˌæp fɚ ɹˈænsəm/
fixed phrase
kidnap someone to get money
To take a person away and keep them prisoner so you can ask for money to let them go.
Ejemplos
- Armed groups often kidnap for ransom in that region.
- The gang planned to kidnap for ransom but was stopped by police.
- He was arrested on suspicion of trying to kidnap for ransom.
ransom demand
1/ɹˈænsəm dɪmˈænd/
fixed phrase
statement of required ransom
A message that says how much money must be paid, and sometimes how, to free a person or thing.
Ejemplos
- The kidnappers' ransom demand was far higher than the family could afford.
- Negotiators tried to lower the ransom demand before any payment was made.
- Authorities treated the email as a serious ransom demand.
ransom note
1/ɹˈænsəm nˈoʊt/
fixed phrase
written demand for ransom
A written message from the person who took someone, saying what they want in order to let that person go.
Ejemplos
- The police checked the ransom note for fingerprints.
- The ransom note gave detailed instructions on where to leave the money.
- Detectives compared the handwriting on the ransom note with old letters.