choke hold

noun

1
: a hold that involves strong choking pressure applied to the neck of another
2
: absolute dominance or control
had a choke hold on the city's finances

Examples of choke hold in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Perhaps the nurse Kayce put in a choke hold should sue the state … Jamie’s assistant should also sue the state. William Earl, Variety, 25 Nov. 2024 However, the Admiral’s choke hold on his troops is stronger than Sean Bean’s charisma. Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2024 Katagiri previously tried to maintain a delicate peace between the different yakuza factions, but the arrival of detective Shoko Negate (Miki Maya) heralds a new, aggressive stance by the police to end the yakuza’s choke hold on the city. Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 May 2024 The director indulges in major and minor stunts, staging plenty of scenes with cars rolling over to escape exploding bombs and characters escaping choke holds from people determined to kill them. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for choke hold 

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of choke hold was in 1964

Dictionary Entries Near choke hold

Cite this Entry

“Choke hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/choke%20hold. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on choke hold

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!