kidnap
kidnap — verb
1. to take someone by force and hold them prisoner, usually to obtain money for the
to take someone by force and hold them prisoner, usually to obtain money for their release.
A group of armed men kidnapped the mayor's daughter on her way to the office.
The police arrested three suspects who had planned to kidnap a local business owner.
pattern: plan + infinitive (plan to kidnap)
Chidi's family received a ransom note after he was kidnapped from his school.
If kidnappers take a child, the police usually search for the child right away.
Inês was kidnapped while jogging in the park, and her family paid a large ransom.
- abduct
more formal and legal; does not always involve ransom (e.g. a parent abducting their own child)
- take hostage
implies holding people to force a specific demand, often in a robbery or siege
- snatch
informal; suggests a quick grab-and-run style of kidnapping, usually of a child
文法句型
kidnap + person
kidnap + person + from + place
be kidnapped by + person/group
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice (be kidnapped) especially in news reporting. The subject of the active verb is typically a person or criminal group (the kidnappers); the object is a person whose release is demanded.
常見錯誤
kidnap — noun
1. a serious illegal act in which someone is seized and kept as a prisoner, usually
a serious illegal act in which someone is seized and kept as a prisoner, usually to demand money for their return.
The man was sentenced to twenty years in prison for kidnap.
collocation: sentenced for kidnap
Kidnap is considered one of the most serious crimes in many countries.
The couple was devastated after their son became a victim of kidnap.
New laws were introduced to give kidnap victims more protection and support.
The kidnap of a well-known doctor shocked the whole community.
- kidnapping
the more common long form of the noun; interchangeable in most contexts
- abduction
formal and legal; broader in scope, not limited to ransom cases
- release
the act of setting a kidnapped person free
文法句型
the kidnap of + person
for kidnap
a victim of kidnap
用法筆記
As an uncountable noun, kidnap refers to the crime in general ('convicted of kidnap'). With the definite article and 'of', it refers to a specific event ('the kidnap of a local official'). In legal and journalistic contexts, the longer form 'kidnapping' is more common.