Hi friends ~
I am very much puzzled by a piece of line from the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean2——Dead Man's Chest",once Jack said to Will's father Bill Turner (at about 00:15:03 of the movie) "He shanghaied you into service. " shanghai"???what does that mean? Isn't it a city of China?Can it be used as a verb? Please~If any one of you have seen the movie~help me get of my comfusion~I will be more than thankful~

Question

Hi friends ~
I am very much puzzled by a piece of line from the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean2——Dead Man's Chest",once Jack said to Will's father Bill Turner (at about 00:15:03 of the movie) "He shanghaied  you into service.             "  shanghai"???what does that mean? Isn't it a city of China?Can it be used as a verb? Please~If any one of you have seen the movie~help me  get of my comfusion~I will be more than thankful~

Answer

Good question!

The meaning has changed over the years, but simply it means TO TRICK SOMEONE QUICKLY AND AGGRESSIVELY.

Another good one is TO TAKE CONTROL OF SOMETHING QUICKLY IN A WAY THAT WILL CHANGE AN OUTCOME.