pound of flesh
noun phrase
: a payment or penalty exacted to fulfill a deal or punishment
loan sharks taking their pound of flesh
Examples of pound of flesh in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Context Shylock refers to the villainous Jewish moneylender in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, who demands a pound of flesh from a character unable to repay a loan.
—
Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
Trump got his pound of flesh, while CBS was essentially forced to pay a tax to pave the way for its merger.
—Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
But watching two icons of the ’90s and early aughts duke it out over a bloody pound of flesh?
—Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Mar. 2025
But his big men’s efforts have not come without its pound of flesh or occasional foul troubles.
—Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2025
Cooper Stearns getting his pound of flesh was to be expected.
—Martin Henderson, Orange County Register, 6 Feb. 2025
And Shakespeare’s Shylock received nothing for demanding a pound of flesh.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 5 Jan. 2025
Wednesday's cartoons - thoughts and prayers, pound of flesh, and more
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By The Week US
published 3 hours ago
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Escape your echo chamber.
—The Week Us, theweek, 18 Dec. 2024
The Panthers got their pound of flesh by routing Bunnell, 41-13, in the Class M semifinals and went on to beat Windsor for their fourth CIAC state title.
—Ned Griffen, Hartford Courant, 16 Dec. 2024
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Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
Trump got his pound of flesh, while CBS was essentially forced to pay a tax to pave the way for its merger.
—Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
But watching two icons of the ’90s and early aughts duke it out over a bloody pound of flesh?
—Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Mar. 2025
But his big men’s efforts have not come without its pound of flesh or occasional foul troubles.
—Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2025
Cooper Stearns getting his pound of flesh was to be expected.
—Martin Henderson, Orange County Register, 6 Feb. 2025
And Shakespeare’s Shylock received nothing for demanding a pound of flesh.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 5 Jan. 2025
Wednesday's cartoons - thoughts and prayers, pound of flesh, and more
Newsletter sign up
By The Week US
published 3 hours ago
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber.
—The Week Us, theweek, 18 Dec. 2024
The Panthers got their pound of flesh by routing Bunnell, 41-13, in the Class M semifinals and went on to beat Windsor for their fourth CIAC state title.
—Ned Griffen, Hartford Courant, 16 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Pound of flesh.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pound%20of%20flesh. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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