Rope Someone into Doing Something

An English idiom explained simply

What Does It Mean?

To “rope someone into doing something” means to persuade, convince, or even trick them into doing something—often something they didn’t originally want to do.

The phrase often carries a slightly playful or manipulative tone, suggesting the person was gently (or not so gently) pulled into the activity.

Origin

The expression likely comes from the idea of using a rope to pull someone along—like lassoing a person into joining an activity. It’s been used in English since at least the early 20th century.

Common Usage & Examples

“My friend roped me into helping her move apartments last weekend.”
“They tried to rope him into joining the committee, but he refused.”
“I didn’t want to go to the party, but she totally roped me into it!”

Synonyms & Similar Phrases

Quick Quiz

Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?