trap (someone or something) into (something)

trap (someone or something) into (something)

1. Literally, to ensnare an animal inside of something. He trapped the raccoon into the cage and brought it out to the woods to release it. The plant traps insects into a pouch filled with a sweet-smelling nectar that eventually digests them.

2. To force, compel, or manipulate a person, group, or entity into entering some inescapable situation or position. Often used in passive constructions. Tens of thousands of people in the region have been trapped into poverty following the collapse of the coal industry. The revolution ended up trapping the entire country into chaos and bloodshed for the last five years.

3. To force, compel, or manipulate a person, group, or entity into doing something against their will. It was discovered that the detectives had used blackmail to trap the suspect into confessing. Pressure from our investors trapped our company into taking on even more debt.

See also: trap

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

trap someone into something

to get one into such a position that one has little choice but to do something unwanted. You'll never trap me into going out with Roger! I was trapped into going there.

See also: trap

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