巻(ま)き添(ぞ)え

Etymology

巻(ま)き (winding, wrapping - from 巻(ま)く) + 添(ぞ)え (accompanying - from 添(そ)える)

The image is of being "wound up" or "wrapped into" something.

Common expressions

• 巻(ま)き添(ぞ)えを食(く)う - to get caught up in (passive involvement)
• 巻(ま)き添(ぞ)えになる - to become involved
• 巻(ま)き添(ぞ)えにする - to drag someone into
• 巻(ま)き添(ぞ)えを避(さ)ける - to avoid getting involved

Usage

Always negative - implies

• Unwilling involvement
• Innocent third party affected
• Unfortunate circumstance
• Collateral damage
• 事故(じこ)の巻(ま)き添(ぞ)え - caught in an accident
• 争(あらそ)いの巻(ま)き添(ぞ)え - caught in a dispute
• 犯罪(はんざい)の巻(ま)き添(ぞ)え - implicated in a crime
• リストラの巻(ま)き添(ぞ)え - caught up in layoffs

Similar words

• とばっちり - splash damage, undeserved consequence
• 巻(ま)き込(こ)まれる - to be drawn into
• 飛(と)び火(び) - spreading (of trouble)
• 累(るい)が及(およ)ぶ - to suffer consequences (formal)

Register

Neutral. Common in everyday conversation and news reports.