hostage
Loading your saved state.
hostage
A person who is held captive by someone in order to force another party (e.g., the government or police) to take a specific action.
Die Entführer drohten, der Geisel etwas anzutun.
The kidnappers threatened to harm the hostage.
hostage
In a figurative sense: a person or thing that is completely dominated or controlled by external circumstances, interests, or constraints.
Die Politik darf nicht zur Geisel von Wirtschaftsinteressen werden.
Politics must not become a hostage to economic interests.
Although the noun 'die Geisel' (hostage) is feminine, it can refer to people of any gender. So you can also speak of 'einer männlichen Geisel' (a male hostage).
Unter den Geiseln befand sich auch ein bekannter Journalist.
Among the hostages was also a well-known journalist.
In connection with kidnappings, 'Geisel' (hostage) is often used with certain verbs: 'Geiseln nehmen' (to take hostages), 'Geiseln halten' (to hold hostages), 'Geiseln befreien' (to free hostages), or 'eine Geisel freilassen' (to release a hostage).
Die Polizei verhandelte über Stunden, um die Geiseln zu befreien.
The police negotiated for hours to free the hostages.
In the figurative meaning, the construction 'zur Geisel von etwas werden' (to become a hostage to something) or 'Geisel + genitive' is often used. This expresses strong dependence or a loss of control.
Das Land wurde zur Geisel seiner eigenen Bürokratie.
The country became a hostage to its own bureaucracy.
victim / sacrifice
“Opfer” primarily describes a person in terms of the harm they suffer as a result of negative circumstances. In its figurative use, “Geisel” emphasizes more strongly that such circumstances continuously and completely dominate the person.
Wegen ihrer schweren Abhängigkeit war sie völlig eine Geisel der Sucht.
Because of her severe addiction, she was completely a hostage to it.
Durch ihre schwere Abhängigkeit wurde sie zum Opfer der Sucht.
Her severe addiction made her a victim of the addiction.
