si1 piu3撕票
Jyutpingsi1 piu3
Yalesī piu
Definition
To kill a hostage (of kidnappers).
colloquialother
How it's used
Originating from the practice of tearing up the claim ticket for a ransom, this term has evolved into a grim euphemism for murdering a captive. It is strictly reserved for criminal contexts involving kidnapping and extortion. Using it in any other situation would sound bizarre and inappropriately dark.
Examples
If you don't pay up now, I'll kill the hostage immediately.
The kidnappers ended up killing the hostage, it was so cruel.
Related words
Common phrases
threaten to kill the hostage
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with literal tearing of paper or tickets, as the metaphorical meaning is now the primary usage in news and crime reports.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
