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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

more than flesh can standin for a penny, in for a poundneither fish nor fleshthorn in the fleshpound for poundpound a beatpress the fleshneither fish, flesh, nor fowlflesh outdon't be penny wise and pound foolishpound outpound outpound outneither fish, flesh, nor good red herri…

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