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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But after last week’s Wall Street Journal story highlighting six months of failure within the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, the family might soon want a pound of flesh. — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 8 Aug. 2026 Players would get their pound of flesh, and Perry just kept coming back for more whether four times a season or eight. — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 25 July 2026 So your 20-pound watermelon with 14 pounds of flesh will yield 21 cups of fresh fruit. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2026 While Kimmel never formally apologized and no pound of flesh was taken by the administration, the upshot was that Disney was believed to have acted a bit too hastily. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pound of flesh

Word History

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pound of flesh was in 1827

Rhymes for pound of flesh

See All Rhymes for pound of flesh

Browse Nearby Words

pound netter
pound of flesh
pound out
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pound of flesh.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pound%20of%20flesh. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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