at gunpoint



at gunpoint

Also, at knifepoint. Under coercion, as in I'm going to hold him at gunpoint for that raise he promised me last year. Both these phrases were at first used literally and later also figuratively. [Mid-1900s]

at gunpoint

Under or as if under the threat of being shot.

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
AllanAL-ənEnglish, Scottish
Binyaminbee-nyah-MEEN (Jewish)Hebrew, Arabic, Biblical Hebrew
ErnstERNST (German), ERNSHT (Swedish)German, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish
RomÁN-Hungarian
Rohan (2)-Literature
Aqila-Arabic