# pound of flesh

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/pound-of-flesh
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- The bank demands its pound of flesh even when you are struggling.
- The landlord insisted on his pound of flesh, refusing to lower the rent despite the building's poor condition.
- By enforcing the contract to the letter, the ruthless investor exacted his pound of flesh from the struggling startup founders.

## Origin

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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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.