hold sb prisoner

This page is about the collocation hold sb prisoner

collocation pattern: verb + noun

Meaning

to force somebody to stay somewhere

For example

  • How many of our soldiers were captured and held prisoner during the war?

  • The government's holding hundreds of refugees prisoner while deciding what to do with them.

Note:
Related collocations include "hold somebody hostage" and "hold somebody captive"

Quick Quiz

If you're holding someone prisoner, you're

a. planning to imprison them

b. helping them to escape

c. not letting them leave
a) planning to imprison them b) helping them to escape c) not letting them leave

Contributor: Matt Errey