Shanghai Meaning in English
word
Definition
To force someone to do something or go somewhere, especially by trickery or kidnapping. Originally, it referred to kidnapping people to make them work on ships.
Usage & Nuances
Formal and historical, but sometimes used figuratively or playfully today. 'To be shanghaied into' something means forced or tricked into doing it, often by friends or authority. Not related to the city, and now considered an old-fashioned term when used literally.
Example Sentences
Sailors were sometimes shanghaied in old port cities.
basic
He was shanghaied into helping us move.
basic
People were afraid of being shanghaied at night.
basic
I got shanghaied into babysitting for my neighbors this weekend.
natural
My boss shanghaied me into working late again.
natural
You don't want to get shanghaied into planning the whole event by yourself.
natural