Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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noun
Something which is owed and which will be hurtful or difficult to provide; a debt owed to someone who is merciless and demanding.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic
Qualifier: sensitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
From Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, in which Antonio literally owes a pound of his flesh to the moneylender Shylock.
