/'blækmeɪl; `blæk,mel/
n [U]
1 demanding money (from sb) by threatening to reveal information which could harm him 勒索; 敲诈
*be found guilty of blackmail 被裁决犯有勒索罪.
2 use of threats to influence a person or group 用威胁来左右别人
*`Increase productivity or lose your jobs.' `That's blackmail!' ｀你们要提高生产率, 不然就把你们解雇!＇｀这是要挟!＇

v [Tn, Tn.pr] ~ sb (into doing sth) force sb to do sth by blackmail 要挟某人做某事
*He was blackmailed by an enemy agent (into passing on state secrets). 敌特威胁他（要他交出国家机密）.
* The strikers refused to be blackmailed into returning to work. 罢工者拒绝了要挟复工的条件.