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pound of flesh

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

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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Submitted on September 01, 2009

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to pound of flesh

neither fish, flesh, nor fowlneither fish, flesh, nor good red herri…in for a penny, in for a poundpound the pavementpound sandan ounce of prevention can be worth a p…one fleshexchange fleshthorn in the fleshpound outmore than flesh can standpound the pavementpenny wise and pound foolishneither fish nor flesh

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