on pain of

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العربية الفصحى
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French
हिन्दी
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/ɑːn peɪn əv/
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With a stated punishment threatened for disobedience.
Practice using on pain of in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • He was ordered to remain silent on pain of dismissal.
  • The files must be returned on pain of a fine.
  • The deadline must be met on pain of losing the grant.
  • Visitors may not enter on pain of prosecution.
  • They had to leave on pain of arrest.

Similar words

under penalty of
under threat of
at the risk of

Meanings

Under threat of a penalty

rules
formal
Used after an order to name the punishment that will follow if it is not obeyed.

Examples

  • They had to leave on pain of arrest.
  • The files must be returned on pain of a fine.
  • He was ordered to remain silent on pain of dismissal.
  • Visitors may not enter on pain of prosecution.
  • The deadline must be met on pain of losing the grant.

Similar words

under threat of
under penalty of
at the risk of

Etymology

Pain here means punishment, an older sense inherited through French from Latin poena.

FAQ

What does on pain of mean?

On pain of introduces a punishment for disobeying an order.

When is on pain of used?

It can precede arrest, a fine, dismissal, or loss of a right.

How does on pain of differ from or else?

Or else is general; on pain of names a specific threatened penalty.

How is on pain of used in a sentence?

They had to leave on pain of arrest.

Is on pain of formal?

Yes, it is a formal construction.

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