A pound of flesh
A pound of flesh means a payment or repayment demanded harshly, regardless of the suffering it causes; the phrase appears in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. Today it usually describes someone insisting on what they are owed without showing mercy.
Where it comes from
The bond in the play
The phrase appears in a loan agreement with a terrible penalty. Shylock may take flesh from Antonio’s body if Antonio fails to repay the loan.
In The Merchant of Venice, Antonio borrows money from Shylock to help Bassanio. When the debt falls due unpaid, Shylock asks the court to enforce the penalty.
In The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
The meaning today
The phrase now describes a demand that puts strict repayment above kindness. The demand may concern money, work, or some other costly obligation.
In The Merchant of Venice, Shylock refuses an offer of more money and insists on the agreed penalty. That choice helps explain why the phrase suggests revenge rather than ordinary debt collection.
In The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
How to use A pound of flesh
- Use it for a demand that seems harsh or merciless.
- Make clear what payment, work, or sacrifice is being demanded.
- Avoid it for a reasonable request for repayment.
Does a pound of flesh always mean money?
No, it can mean any repayment or sacrifice demanded without mercy. Someone might use it about excessive work required after a favour, for example. The important point is not the form of payment but the harshness of the demand.
Does Shylock get the pound of flesh?
No, Shylock does not receive the flesh he demands. In The Merchant of Venice, Portia argues that the agreement allows him flesh but no blood. This makes the penalty impossible to carry out, and the court turns against him.
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