ransom

money that is paid to get a kidnapped person released or to stop someone from being harmed

rescate, rescate monetario

Collocations pay a ransom

• The kidnappers demanded a large ransom.

  Los secuestradores exigieron un rescate considerable.

the act of freeing someone who has been kidnapped in return for money or other demands

secuestro, liberación por rescate

Collocations carry out a ransom

• The police are investigating the ransom.

  La policía está investigando el secuestro.

to demand money in exchange for releasing a kidnapped person or to stop someone from being harmed

exigir un rescate, pedir un rescate

• ransom somebody

• The kidnappers ransomed the businessman.

  Los secuestradores exigieron un rescate por el empresario.

to exchange something for a ransom, often used in negative sentences to mean 'not worth it'

no vale la pena, no merece la pena

• be not worth ransoming

• It's not worth ransoming your freedom for a few dollars.

  No vale la pena vender tu libertad por unos cuantos dólares.