take hostage

This page is about the collocation take hostage

collocation pattern: verb + noun

Meaning

to capture and threaten somebody in order to get something

For example

  • Several foreign workers were taken hostage by rebel fighters.

  • Do you know how many hostages they've taken?

Quick Quiz

Who might take hostages during a bank robbery?

a. the security guards

b. the bank manager

c. the bank robbers
a) the security guards b) the bank manager c) the bank robbers

Contributor: Matt Errey