inflict

inflict (someone or something) (up)on (one)

1. To cause someone to have to care for someone else, especially when doing so is burdensome or otherwise unwelcome. Oh, please don't inflict Uncle Albert on me—he's so obnoxious! Why would you inflict your kids on me? You know I hate kids! I'm a cat person, so please don't inflict your big, slobbery dog on me.

2. To cause someone to have to endure something that is damaging, troublesome, or problematic. Their military is trying to inflict maximum damage upon our country. Stop inflicting so much pressure on your daughter and let her live her own life! Why must you inflict your bigotry on the next generation?

See also: inflict

self-inflicted wound

1. Literally, an injury that one causes to oneself. In wartime, some soldiers use self-inflicted wounds as a way to escape battle.

2. By extension, problems or difficulties that one causes for oneself. They'd have won that game if not for the self-inflicted wounds, like three penalties for too many men on the ice.

See also: wound

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

inflict someone (up)on someone

to burden someone with the care or keeping of someone else. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) Please don't inflict Bob upon me. My brother inflicted his children on us for the weekend. Well, I certainly don't want to inflict myself on you for the weekend, but I do need a place to stay.

See also: inflict, on

inflict something (up)on someone or something

to impose something, such as pain, a burden, a problem, etc., on someone or something. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) I hate to inflict an additional burden upon you, but someone has to clean the oven. Please don't inflict that on me.

See also: inflict, on

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

inflict on

or inflict upon

v.

To deal or mete out something that punishes or is burdensome; impose something: The insurgents inflicted heavy losses on the troops. The hurricane inflicted great damage upon the coastal communities.

See also: inflict, on

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.