1. to force someone to join a ship’s crew by trickery or coercion
Usage: nautical; historical
2. to trick or force someone into doing something against their will
Usage: informal

Examples

• The captain shanghais unsuspecting sailors from waterfront taverns.
• Pirates often shanghaied men to fill their crews.
• He shanghais his friends into helping him move every weekend.
• The company shanghais employees into working overtime without pay.
• She felt like her boss shanghaied her into taking on extra responsibilities.
• The recruiter shanghais young men with false promises of adventure.