blackmail 单词整理

基本释义

词性：名词（n.）、动词（v.）

英式发音：/ˈblækmeɪl/

美式发音：/ˈblækmeɪl/

中文意思：敲诈；勒索；以揭发隐私相威胁索取钱财或迫使他人做某事。

常见用法

• blackmail someone into doing something：胁迫某人做某事
  例：They blackmailed him into giving them the documents.
• be under blackmail：处于被勒索状态
• pay blackmail：支付勒索款

经典例句

1. He was accused of blackmailing his former employer.
2. The journalist refused to be silenced by threats of blackmail.
3. She received an anonymous letter demanding money — it was clearly an attempt at blackmail.

词源小知识

“Blackmail” 最初源于16世纪苏格兰边境地区，指农民向强盗支付“保护费”（通常以实物如黑色牲畜支付，“black” 指劣质，“mail” 古英语意为“租金”）。后来演变为以威胁手段勒索钱财的行为。

易混淆提示

注意不要与 “bribery（行贿）” 混淆：
- Blackmail 是以威胁手段强迫对方；
- Bribery 是以利益诱惑对方。