inflict (someone or something) (up)on (one)
(redirected from inflict him upon)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!
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!
See also: inflict
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.
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.
inflict on
or inflict uponv.
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.