black, 黑，此处指邪恶。mail, 此处指租金，贡金。来自16世纪苏格兰一些土匪向当地农民强制收租，类似保护费。

1. She was a prime target for blackmail, don't you see?

她是敲诈的主要目标。你难道看不出来吗？

2. The tactics employed can range from overt bullying to subtle emotional blackmail.

从公然威吓到微妙的情感胁迫，各种战术都用上了。

3. That was a terrible case of blackmail in the paper today.

今天报上登的那宗勒索案真可怕。

4. It looks like the pictures were being used for blackmail.

这些照片好像被用于敲诈勒索。

5. It's blackmail, pure and simple.

这纯粹是敲诈。