hold (someone) to ransom

to force someone to do something by putting them in a situation where something bad will happen to them if they do not.

Some people regarded the miners' strike as the union holding the nation to ransom.

• in the heat of
• in the heat of something
• in the heat of the moment
• in the hole
• in the hot seat
• in the house
• in the interim
• in their infinite wisdom
• in their wisdom
• in the know
• in the lap of luxury
• in the light of
• in the light of something
• in the line of duty
• in the line of fire
• in the long haul
• in the long run
• in the long term
• in the loop
• in the main
• in the making
• in the market for
• in the market for something
• in the meantime
• in the meanwhile