巻(ま)き添(ぞ)え

まきぞえ

noun

getting caught up in; being involved; collateral damage

1. getting caught up in; being involved in (something negative)

Being drawn into a troublesome situation, conflict, or accident without originally being a party to it. Often implies innocent involvement in someone else's problem.

喧嘩(けんか)の巻(ま)き添(ぞ)えを食(く)った。

I got caught up in their fight.

事故(じこ)で巻(ま)き添(ぞ)えになった通行人(つうこうにん)がいた。

There were passersby who got caught up in the accident.

巻(ま)き添(ぞ)えにならないよう、距離(きょり)を置(お)いている。

I'm keeping my distance so I don't get involved.

COMPOUND STRUCTURE:
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.

KEY 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

NUANCE:

Always negative - implies:

Unwilling involvement
Innocent third party affected
Unfortunate circumstance
Collateral damage

COMMON CONTEXTS:

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(りすとら)の巻(ま)き添(ぞ)え - caught up in layoffs

SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:

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)

general

Added 2026.1.19 22:50

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