to shanghai
- verb
- /ʃæŋˈhaɪ/
- NSFW
- We'll shanghai Wendy.
Examples
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They tried to shanghai unsuspecting sailors into joining their crew.
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I think you did shanghai me.
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We'll shanghai them.
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If you're going to shanghai me office, Tert, you best conceal the evidence.
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Charge three, shanghaiing sailors.
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They were shanghaiing all the combats... ...and noncoms and training replacements for those rebel devils.
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During the raid, the pirates would shanghai anyone who dared to resist.
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He felt trapped after they shanghaied him into working on the ship without his consent.
Synonyms
Force someone to do something by threats
To force someone to serve on a ship or in the navy
To force someone to do something by threats or strong pressure
Compounds
How Forced
- NSFW
- NSFW
- Offensive
Surface Forms
Etymology
Shanghai comes from the name of the Chinese city Shanghai and a cruel trick on 1800s docks, where thieves would kidnap men and put them on ships bound for Shanghai. So, to shanghai someone came to mean 'force' them to 'join a ship's crew' or do work against their will.