A Pound of Flesh Meaning

Definition: Payment that is owed, which may be collected in a cruel or vengeful way.

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Origin of A Pound of Flesh

This expression comes from one of the works of the English playwright William Shakespeare. It appears in his play Merchant of Venice, from the year 1596.

In this play, a moneylender has a contract with merchant that demands the merchant give him a pound of his flesh, or body, in payment. Obviously, for the merchant to pay with part of his body would harm him greatly, although it is in their contract.

The continued insistence that he pay of his own flesh is the central plot device in the play.


Examples of A Pound of Flesh

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Here is an example in which two roommates are discussing a problem one of them is having at work.

Mario: Hey, Axel, I need your advice.

Axel: Sure. What’s going on?

Mario: Well, you remember that my job offered to pay for my school if I worked for them until I paid it off, right?

Axel: Yeah. Why?


Mario: So I just got this amazing job offer from another law firm! It’s way better than my current job.

Axel: Congratulations!

Mario: Thanks, but, unfortunately, it seems like I can’t accept it. I didn’t realize it at the time, but my contract with my current job forbids me from accepting another job until my current contract is complete.

Axel: What happens if you break the contract?

Mario: Then I owe my current job the full amount of my college expenses.


Axel: Does that include the amount you already worked to pay off?

Mario: I would have to pay even for the amount I already worked off.

Axel: That’s terrible!

Mario: I know. I mean, I realize the company has to have its pound of flesh, but I still expected more from them. They are so ruthless!

More Examples

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This excerpt is about a widow whose husband died, but is still responsible for his car lease.

The second excerpt is about tax reform in California.

See more: Why Are The Broadcast Media More Strictly Regulated Than The Print Media

Summary

The idiom a pound of flesh describes something that one person must pay to another due to a contract or other legal agreement. Nonetheless, this payment is harsh or abominable to ask for.


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