hostage
noun
ˈhɒstɪdʒ
noun
1
someone
who
is
kept
as
a
prisoner
by
an
enemy
so
that
the
other
side
will
do
what
the
enemy
demands
人质;
The
group
are
holding
two
tourists
hostage
(=keeping
them
as
hostages)
， 这伙人挟持两名游客作为人质。
a
family
taken
hostage
at
gunpoint
被用枪胁迫沦为人质的一家人
2
be (a) hostage to sth
to
be
influenced
and
controlled
by
something,
so
that
you
are
not
free
to
do
what
you
want
受制于某事
Our
country
must
not
be
held
hostage
to
our
past.
我们的国家必须要摆脱昔日的束缚。
3
a hostage to fortune
something
that
you
have
promised
to
do
which
may
cause
you
problems
in
the
future
可能招致后患的承诺