Meegesleurd

Meegesleurd is the past participle of the Dutch verb meesleuren, meaning to drag along or pull along with others. It can be used both in a literal sense, referring to physically pulling someone or something, and in a figurative sense, describing someone being drawn into a situation or activity by others.

Etymology and usage. The word combines the prefix mee- (together, with) with sleuren (to drag or haul). The form meegesleurd is commonly used with the auxiliary zijn or hebben in perfect constructions, for example: Ze zijn meegesleurd in een discussie, or Ze zijn meegesleurd door de spanning. In attributive position it can describe a person or party that has been involuntarily brought into something, though this adjectival use is less frequent than its predicative use. The term conveys a sense of lack of agency or voluntariness for the subject.

Context and examples. Meegesleurd is frequently found in journalism, fiction, and everyday language to indicate that someone was compelled to participate or became involved as an unintended consequence of others’ actions. Examples: Tijdens de rellen werden verschillende mensen meegesleept in het geweld. Hij voelde zich meegesleept in een conflict waar hij geen aandeel in had. De betrokken partijen probeerden zich los te maken van de meegesleurde situatie, maar slaagden daar niet gemakkelijk in.

See also. Related concepts include meegevraagd (involved by invitation or request), meedoen (to participate), en meeambtelijk betrokken raken (to become involuntarily involved). The term is well established in Dutch and is understood across dialects and registers.