English Explanatory Dictionary

pound of flesh

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Something which is owed and which will be hurtful or difficult to provide; a debt owed to someone who is merciless and demanding.

Pronunciation

En-au-pound of flesh.ogg

Word forms

pound of flesh pounds of flesh

Etymology

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

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