A pound of flesh meaning

This expression comes from one of the works of the english playwright william shakespeare. A pound of flesh means sixteen ounces or 454 grams of human tissue, either skin or muscle. In the play, there is a moneylender named shylock who agrees to finance a young merchant named antonios fleet of ships. Pound verb definition and synonyms macmillan dictionary. The tory blue bloods demanding a pound of flesh ps4. Pound of flesh financial definition of pound of flesh. What does shakespeares pound of flesh mean metaphorically.

Taking its pound of flesh from him because of his own misdeeds. Proud flesh definition of proud flesh by medical dictionary. Shakespeares use of pound of flesh in the merchant of venice is literally a pound of the flesh of antonio, the eponymous merchant, a sanguinary quid pro quo that did not at all entail providing dirt on joe bidens activities in venice in the. Shylock is owed money by antonio, and attempts to carry out an agreement which allows him to cut off a pound of antonios flesh. Flesh definition, the soft substance of a human or other animal body, consisting of muscle and fat.

Pound of flesh meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. In shakespeares play the merchant of venice, the moneylender shylock loans the merchant antonio 3000. Flesh as opposed to the spirit, both of which were comprised in the preceding meaning genesis 6. Shakespeare has coined this phrase in a figurative way, which refers to a lawful but unreasonable recompense during the late 18th century. Horseflesh definition is horses considered especially with reference to riding, driving, or racing. I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh tomorrow to my bloody creditor 3. When someone uses the term pound of flesh they are referring to something which has been borrowed and must be returned at any cost. Clubs are demanding their pound of flesh and, bit by bit, are seeking to subvert the supremacy of nationalist interests. Horseflesh definition of horseflesh by merriamwebster. Shylock is a jew who lends money to his christian rival antonio, setting the security at a pound of antonios flesh. Here, the mentioning of flesh suggests vengeful, bloodthirstiness, and inflexible behavior to get back borrowed money. Seven pounds is a 2008 american drama film, directed by gabriele muccino, in which will smith stars as a man who sets out to change the lives of seven people.

Payment that is owed, which may be collected in a cruel or vengeful way. Pound of flesh definition and meaning collins english. The film was released in theaters in the united states and canada on december 19, 2008, by columbia pictures. The insistence by shylock of the payment of antonios flesh is the central plot device of the play. Insisting on a pound of flesh is a strong and extreme demand, and is a phrase that is. And before the play is up, the duke and portia have said pound of flesh as well. It comes from the merchant of venice and is spoken by shylock, a moneylender, who is an outcast in venice because hes a jew. Information and translations of pound of flesh in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. The movie title seven pounds refers to seven debts owed by the lead character. Definition and synonyms of pound from the online english dictionary from macmillan education.

From shakespeares the merchant of venice, in which antonio literally owes a pound of his flesh to the moneylender shylock. A debt whose payment is harshly insisted on, as in the other members of the cartel all want their pound of flesh from brazil. The pound avoirdupois is greater than the troy pound, in the proportion of seven thousand to five thousand seven hundred and sixty. In activ, scene1, portia concludes the conflict between shylock and antonio by saying to shylock, the words expressly are. The origin of this phrase is taken from william shakespeares play, merchant of venice. This expression alludes to the scene in shakespeares the merchant of venice 4. Someone demanding their pound of flesh is saying that they are determined to get what is theirs by right, no matter how it may affect anyone else and regardless of the consequences. Whats the origin of the phrase pound of flesh this of course derives from shakespeares. In fact, its one of the recurring images of the play. A mans heroic attempt to help a woman in distress ends up with him waking up the next day without a kidney and plotting his revenge. Definition of take a pound of flesh in the idioms dictionary.

Pound noun definition and synonyms macmillan dictionary. Sophie jackson, 33, from chorley, has had a publishing dream come true with a pound of flesh, a new yorkbased prison romance, which has already attracted an impressive 4. Meaning of pound of flesh in english cambridge dictionary. A pound of flesh meaning, origin, and usage literary devices. This of course derives from shakespeares merchant of venice, 1596. Pound of flesh meaning origin usage examples pound of flesh shakespeare quotes esl an explanation of the phrase a pound of flesh, which originates from.

Pound of flesh definition, the soft substance of a human or other animal body, consisting of muscle and fat. An allusion to shakespeares the merchant of venice, in which the moneylender shylock demands he be paid the pound of flesh promised as collateral for a loan. In addition, the phrase pound of flesh has also entered the lexicon as slang for a particularly onerous or unpleasant obligation. The figurative use of the phrase to refer to any lawful but nevertheless unreasonable recompense dates to the late 18th century. Ones pound of flesh meaning of ones pound of flesh by. Since shakespeares time, the characters name has become a synonym for loan shark, and as a verb to shylock means to lend money at exorbitant rates.

The council is planning to spend ten million pounds more than government guidelines next year. The character portia says this line on the insistence of shylock, the jew, for the payment of antonios flesh, which is a central point of the play. When a bankrupt antonio defaults on the loan, shylock demands the pound of flesh. Oct 15, 2019 pound of flesh plural pounds of flesh idiomatic something which is owed and which will be hurtful or difficult to provide. Pound of flesh definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Definition of pound of flesh in the idioms dictionary. Pound of flesh is an idiom that has been in use for hundreds of years.

Something one is strictly or legally entitled to, but which it is ruthless or inhuman to demand. Pound of flesh meaning when someone uses the term pound of flesh they are referring to something which has been borrowed and must be returned at any cost. Modern examples background the allusion, a pound of flesh is a phrase that comes from shakespeares merchant of venice. Customers can ask for a pound of bananas, but traders are obliged to weigh them in metric units. Pound of flesh definition of pound of flesh by medical.

Modern english speakers use the phrase a pound of flesh when someone says they want justice, but the. Just 200 extra calories each day add up to onehalf pound of extra body fat each week. Flesh definition for englishlanguage learners from. Seven pounds of flesh is most like a combination of the idiom pound of flesh and the movie seven pounds.

Pound of flesh definition of pound of flesh by merriam. It appears in his play merchant of venice, from the year 1596 in this play, a moneylender has a contract with merchant that demands the merchant give him a pound of. Something that is owed needs to be paid back at every cost. We get that he wants a hefty collateral for his loan, but why a pound of flesh. Pound of flesh definition of pound of flesh by the free. An idiom is a word, group of words or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is not easily deduced from its literal definition. Definition of ones pound of flesh in the idioms dictionary.

The words pound of flesh are insinuating that an unpaid debt might end up with a vengeful finish. A pound of flesh is a figurative way of referring to a harsh demand or spiteful penaltythe consequences of defaulting on a desperate bargain. The victim of the incident, while only sustaining superficial injuries, is demanding his pound of flesh from the nightclub owner following the court ruling. There are two kinds of weights, namely, the troy, and the avoirdupois. What is the meaning of phrase seven pounds of flesh answers.

Take a pound of flesh idioms by the free dictionary. Rosario dawson, woody harrelson, and barry pepper also star. Shakespeare has coined this phrase in a figurative way, which refers to a lawful but unreasonable. In shakespeares play the merchant of venice, the moneylender shylock loans the. Pound definition in the cambridge english dictionary. The pound avoirdupois is greater than the troy pound, in the proportion of seven thousand to. Pound of flesh meaning origin usage examples pound of. Whats a pound of flesh between friends that is repeated throughout the song only to illustrate the perversion of what friends are all about, sarcastically speaking. Feb 23, 2016 pound of flesh meaning origin usage examples pound of flesh shakespeare quotes esl an explanation of the phrase a pound of flesh, which originates from a play called the merchant of venice. A debt or punishment, especially a cruel or unreasonable one, that is harshly insisted upon. The pound of flesh which i demand of him is deerely bought, tis mine, and i will haue it.

Pound of flesh definition is a payment or penalty exacted to fulfill a deal or punishment. A pound of flesh was demanded as payment by the character shylock in william shakespeares the merchant of venice. It appears in his play merchant of venice, from the year 1596. Something which is owed that is ruthlessly required to be paid back. With jeanclaude van damme, john ralston, aki aleong, charlotte peters. Change your default dictionary to american english. Meaning of pound of flesh something that is owed needs to be paid back at every cost. Pound of flesh definition of pound of flesh by merriamwebster.