Shanghai
verb
To force someone to do something or go somewhere by tricking or kidnapping them.
He was shanghaied into working for the gang after they threatened his family.
Often appears as...
- shanghaied into working
- shanghaied into joining
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
The most populated city in China, known for its skyline and strong economy.
We're planning a trip to Shanghai next summer to explore its rich history and culture.
Often appears as...
- trip to shanghai
- shanghai skyline
verb
To force someone to do something or go somewhere by tricking or kidnapping them.
He was shanghaied into working for the gang after they threatened his family.
Often appears as...
- shanghaied into working
- shanghaied into joining
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
The most populated city in China, known for its skyline and strong economy.
We're planning a trip to Shanghai next summer to explore its rich history and culture.
Often appears as...
- trip to shanghai
- shanghai skyline
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Implies an unethical or illegal way of forcing someone, carries a negative tone.
He felt shanghaied into signing the unfair contract.
Pro Tip 2/3Historical Origin
Originally referred to abducting sailors to crew ships bound for Shanghai in the 19th century.
Sailors at the port feared being shanghaied and forced into a treacherous voyage.
Pro Tip 3/3Colloquial Usage
Used informally, often in spoken English or casual writing, not in formal situations.
I was basically shanghaied into organizing the entire event by myself.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Implies an unethical or illegal way of forcing someone, carries a negative tone.
He felt shanghaied into signing the unfair contract.
Pro Tip 2/3Historical Origin
Originally referred to abducting sailors to crew ships bound for Shanghai in the 19th century.
Sailors at the port feared being shanghaied and forced into a treacherous voyage.
Pro Tip 3/3Colloquial Usage
Used informally, often in spoken English or casual writing, not in formal situations.
I was basically shanghaied into organizing the entire event by myself.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Implies an unethical or illegal way of forcing someone, carries a negative tone.
He felt shanghaied into signing the unfair contract.
Pro Tip 2/3Historical Origin
Originally referred to abducting sailors to crew ships bound for Shanghai in the 19th century.
Sailors at the port feared being shanghaied and forced into a treacherous voyage.
Pro Tip 3/3Colloquial Usage
Used informally, often in spoken English or casual writing, not in formal situations.
I was basically shanghaied into organizing the entire event by myself.
Never forget "Shanghai"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Eric X. Li: A tale of...
Shanghai, at the height of the Cultural Revolution. My grandmother tells me that she heard the sound of gunfire along with my first cries. When I was growing up, I was told a story that explained all I ever needed to know about humanity. It went like this.
Video examples
How to create a great...
healthy and the hong kong and shanghai bank changed to eight that changed to hsbc to help the bank expand globally real words like uber and slack are ripped right out of a dictionary and suggest attributes or benefits uber literally means an outstanding
Video examples
Amanda Gorman: Using...
be bold maya angelou and ozaki shanghai phyllis wheatley lucille clifton gwendolyn brooks joan wicks audrey lord and so many more it might feel like every story has been told before but the truth is no one's ever told my story in the way i would tell it
Video examples
Teachers need real...
really only one area where we're near the top and that's in failing to give our teachers to help they need to develop their skills let's look at the best academic performer the province of Shanghai China now they ranked number one across the
Video examples
Solving the Mystery of...
devalorization under appreciation of their culture of their ways of life of them as people when some of my colleagues see people coming from you know new york or shanghai or or madrid or paris you anywhere you know
Video examples
Asia's rise -- how and...
This is the big question today. There they are today. Now what does it mean that the -- the averages there -- this is the average of China. If I would split China, look here, Shanghai has already catched up.
Video examples
Lemn Sissay: A child of...
Oliver Twist; Cassia in "The Concubine of Shanghai" by Hong Ying; Celie in Alice Walker's "The Color Purple." All of these great fictional characters, all of them who were hurt by their condition,
Video examples
The Mystery of the Jade...
Shanghai be discs are essentially round flat doughnuts they're created from in general nephrite which is a specific kind of jade material they were clearly important to the society that created
Video examples
How we can design...
Travel with me to some of the most beautiful spots in cities around the Rome's Spanish steps; the historic neighborhoods of Paris and Shanghai;
Video examples
ME Finalist PIPE National...
when i go to china i would visit the great wall i would visit the yangtze river i would visit the forbidden city and i would visit shanghai
Video examples
Eric X. Li: A tale of...
Shanghai, at the height of the Cultural Revolution. My grandmother tells me that she heard the sound of gunfire along with my first cries. When I was growing up, I was told a story that explained all I ever needed to know about humanity. It went like this.
Video examples
How to create a great...
healthy and the hong kong and shanghai bank changed to eight that changed to hsbc to help the bank expand globally real words like uber and slack are ripped right out of a dictionary and suggest attributes or benefits uber literally means an outstanding
Video examples
Amanda Gorman: Using...
be bold maya angelou and ozaki shanghai phyllis wheatley lucille clifton gwendolyn brooks joan wicks audrey lord and so many more it might feel like every story has been told before but the truth is no one's ever told my story in the way i would tell it
Video examples
Teachers need real...
really only one area where we're near the top and that's in failing to give our teachers to help they need to develop their skills let's look at the best academic performer the province of Shanghai China now they ranked number one across the
Video examples
Solving the Mystery of...
devalorization under appreciation of their culture of their ways of life of them as people when some of my colleagues see people coming from you know new york or shanghai or or madrid or paris you anywhere you know
Video examples
Asia's rise -- how and...
This is the big question today. There they are today. Now what does it mean that the -- the averages there -- this is the average of China. If I would split China, look here, Shanghai has already catched up.
Video examples
Lemn Sissay: A child of...
Oliver Twist; Cassia in "The Concubine of Shanghai" by Hong Ying; Celie in Alice Walker's "The Color Purple." All of these great fictional characters, all of them who were hurt by their condition,
Video examples
The Mystery of the Jade...
Shanghai be discs are essentially round flat doughnuts they're created from in general nephrite which is a specific kind of jade material they were clearly important to the society that created
Video examples
How we can design...
Travel with me to some of the most beautiful spots in cities around the Rome's Spanish steps; the historic neighborhoods of Paris and Shanghai;
Video examples
ME Finalist PIPE National...
when i go to china i would visit the great wall i would visit the yangtze river i would visit the forbidden city and i would visit shanghai
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jenny Zhang
Chinese Actress
Shanghai, the city where I was born and spent my first four and a half years. It's not necessarily the most pleasant or most comforting place, but I have blood memory there, my core was formed there, so I need to go back often, or else I become empty, lost, without meaning.
Quote examples
Hu Shih
Chinese Philosopher
Within my own life, I read all the beloved novels by lamps of vegetable oil; I saw the Standard Oil invading my own village, I saw gas lamps in the Chinese shops in Shanghai; and I saw their elimination by electric lights.
Quote examples
Jimmer Fredette
American Athlete
Shanghai is an amazing city. The fans were so nice to my family and to myself and just treated us as their own. I'm extremely grateful to the Sharks for that opportunity.
Quote examples
Paul Oakenfold
British Musician
Shanghai set out to take over from Hong Kong and I think it's done that. It's got the most amazing futuristic skyline which rivals and even betters Tokyo.
Quote examples
Yung Lean
Swedish Musician
Shanghai was a peculiar city: so many people; everyone seemed to be working all the time. The skyline was beautiful.
Quote examples
Sven-Goran Eriksson
Swedish Manager
Shanghai is a beautiful city, with theatres, shopping malls and restaurants that can rival anything in London.
Quote examples
Oscar
Brazilian Footballer
The fans are really good in China - not only Shanghai; wherever I go, everybody who stops me is super nice.
Quote examples
Jenny Zhang
Chinese Actress
Shanghai, the city where I was born and spent my first four and a half years. It's not necessarily the most pleasant or most comforting place, but I have blood memory there, my core was formed there, so I need to go back often, or else I become empty, lost, without meaning.
Quote examples
Hu Shih
Chinese Philosopher
Within my own life, I read all the beloved novels by lamps of vegetable oil; I saw the Standard Oil invading my own village, I saw gas lamps in the Chinese shops in Shanghai; and I saw their elimination by electric lights.
Quote examples
Jimmer Fredette
American Athlete
Shanghai is an amazing city. The fans were so nice to my family and to myself and just treated us as their own. I'm extremely grateful to the Sharks for that opportunity.
Quote examples
Paul Oakenfold
British Musician
Shanghai set out to take over from Hong Kong and I think it's done that. It's got the most amazing futuristic skyline which rivals and even betters Tokyo.
Quote examples
Yung Lean
Swedish Musician
Shanghai was a peculiar city: so many people; everyone seemed to be working all the time. The skyline was beautiful.
Quote examples
Sven-Goran Eriksson
Swedish Manager
Shanghai is a beautiful city, with theatres, shopping malls and restaurants that can rival anything in London.
Quote examples
Oscar
Brazilian Footballer
The fans are really good in China - not only Shanghai; wherever I go, everybody who stops me is super nice.
Example 1 of 7
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension