blackmail
noun [ U ] uk/ˈblæk.meɪl/ us/ˈblæk.meɪl/
C2 敲诈，勒索;讹诈;胁迫
the act of getting money from people or forcing them to do something by threatening to tell a secret of theirs or to harm them
If you are in a position of authority, any weakness leaves you open to blackmail. 处在领导岗位的人，任何弱点都容易被人算计。
- More examples
- I don't believe she would ever stoop to bribery or blackmail.
- They were found guilty of blackmail and sent to prison.
- His secret financial activities made him vulnerable to blackmail.
- Undoubtedly, blackmail is a very serious offence.
- They were villains who resorted to threats and blackmail to get what they wanted.
Idiom
emotional blackmailidiom 情感勒索
the act of using a person's feelings of kindness, sympathy, or duty in order to persuade them to do something or feel something
This is just emotional blackmail to make mothers feel guilty for going to work. 让母亲因为出去工作而产生罪恶感实在是情感勒索。
blackmail
verb [ T ] uk/ˈblæk.meɪl/ us/ˈblæk.meɪl/
C2 敲诈，勒索;讹诈;胁迫
to get money from someone by blackmail
They used the photographs to blackmail her into spying for them. 他们用这些照片胁迫她为他们提供情报。
- More examples
- When he found out about my affair he tried to blackmail me.
- A computer hacker's attempt to blackmail the bank was foiled by detectives last month.
- The gang thought they could use the photographs to blackmail the pop star.
- If someone is blackmailing you, you really must inform the police.
- The film is about a city dealer who is blackmailing his boss.