Rope in

phrase ROPE IN roːp ɪn

Also spelled rope-in, rope een

To lure, entice, or trick someone into a scheme, deal, or trouble they would otherwise avoid — to draw them in with sweet talk, flattery, or false promises. To be 'roped in' is to get pulled into something against your better judgement, hooked and reeled in like a caught animal. The word names the whole art of the con and the persuasion, of talking a reluctant person into a venture or a mess, and it carries a note of warning about the smooth operator who draws the unwary into what they will regret.

  • Dem rope in di youth inna dem badness.

    They lured the young man into their wrongdoing.

  • Nuh mek dem rope yuh in wid dem sweet talk.

    Don't let them draw you in with their sweet talk.

  • Mi get rope in inna di whole argument.

    I got pulled into the whole argument.

From the image of roping in an animal — casting a rope to pull it toward you — applied to drawing a person into a scheme.

Usually negative — being drawn into something unwise or harmful.