# price on someone's head

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/price-on-someones-head
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A compensation for capturing or killing someone, especially a criminal.

## Examples

- The criminal has a price on his head.
- The outlaw hides because there is a price on his head.
- You are not safe if the sheriff puts a price on your head.
- The detective knew that a large reward meant there was a price on the fugitive's head.
- After the spy stole the secret documents, the government put a massive price on her head to ensure she was caught before crossing the border.
- The gang leader realized he was in danger when he heard his rivals had put a price on his head.
- After the rebellion failed, the king placed a heavy price on the leader's head to ensure he would never return to power.

## Origin

Attested from the mid-1700s, the phrase originates from the earlier practice of beheading criminals. The price refers to the reward offered for the delivery of a person’s head, providing physical confirmation that a sentence of execution had been carried out. As the state moved away from decapitation, the idiom remained to denote a bounty offered for a person's capture or death.

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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.