hold hostage

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hold hostage (third-person singular simple present holds hostage, present participle holding hostage, simple past and past participle held hostage)

1. To hold as hostage.
   1. To have possession or custody of (a person) as security for performance against a treaty, a pledge, or a demand, especially now an extra-legal demand.
   2. To seek advantage in a situation by threatening the well-being or success of (a person or thing not directly involved in the situation).
      • 1996, Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates ‎:

        Mr. President, when someone holds up this bill and holds it hostage, it is holding hostage the money that would go to aid victims of disaster.

      • 2012, Andrew Clyde Little, Wheeler's Wake Volume II: A Biographical Novel‎, volume 2, page 189:

        Plans for the resumption of her nursery school were put on hold, held hostage by the polio epidemic.

   3. (computer science, of a hacker or malware) To sabotage (a computer) with intent to blackmail the owner.

      Before Frank could turn in his final exam, Jigsaw held his computer hostage.

2. To hold in custody or use for any advantage.
   • 2009, Brian R. Johnson, Brian Kingshott, Safe Overseas Travel: Maximizing Enjoyment by Minimizing Risk‎:

     That way, a taxidriver cannot hold the traveler's luggage hostage in the trunk for more money.

• take hostage

• “hold hostage”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• “hold hostage”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.