at gunpoint

Idioms  

1. Also, at knifepoint. Under coercion, as in I'm going to hold him at gunpoint for that raise he promised me last year. Both these phrases were at first used literally and later also figuratively. [Mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

at gunpoint

American Fork police actions against YouTuber Benjamin Schneider, including an Airbnb raid at gunpoint, sparked local controversy and protests.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

Many of them have been allegedly pushed across the border at gunpoint, according to activists and lawyers who have challenged the measures in court.

From Barron's ● May 25, 2026

A Minneapolis pastor who protested ICE by chanting “We are not afraid” was detained at gunpoint by an agent who reportedly asked him: “Are you afraid now?”

From Slate ● Jan. 13, 2026

At Kenwood High School in Baltimore County, Maryland, a 16-year-old student was handcuffed at gunpoint after an AI-powered security system misidentified a crumpled bag of Doritos as a firearm.

From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2025

One of the people being held at gunpoint was Sergeant Bruce Prothero, a thirty-five-year-old, thirteen-year veteran of the Baltimore County police department.

From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore