pound of flesh

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English

Etymology

From Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, in which Antonio literally owes a pound of his flesh to the moneylender Shylock.

Pronunciation

Noun

pound of flesh (plural pounds of flesh)

  1. (idiomatic, sensitive) Something which is owed and which will be hurtful or difficult to provide; a debt owed to someone who is merciless and demanding.
    • 1918, Willa Cather, The Song of the Lark, part 5, ch. 1:
      You must be under the impression that I'm one of these damned New England sharks that get their pound of flesh off the widow and orphan. If you're a little short, sign a note.
    • 1998, “Celebrity Skin”, performed by Hole:
      When I wake up in my makeup / It's too early for that dress / Wilted and faded somewhere in Hollywood / I'm glad I came here with your pound of flesh
    • 2012 September 22, “Indian Reform: At Last”, in The Economist:
      […] Congress will need to strike deals with other regional allies, such as Mulayam Singh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh. Their pound of flesh will be anti-reform, too.

Usage notes

  • Sensitive due to the antisemitism controversy surrounding the Shylock character, including evocation of the blood libel.

References

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