voluntell
verbUK /ˌvɒl(ə)nˈtɛl/ · US /ˌvɑlənˈtɛl/
Etymology Blend of volunteer + tell, in the sense of "to order (someone to do something)."
- I just found out that I was "voluntold" [Marine-speak for a combination of volunteered and told—F[rank] S[chaeffer]] to stay back for a working party.2003 April 24, [anonymous United States Marine Corps corporal], “Combat Iraq”, in Frank Schaeffer, editor, Voices from the Front: Letters Home from America’s Military Family, New York, N.Y.: Carroll & Graf Publishers, published 2005, →ISBN, pages 132–133:
- All had been directed by their command to participate in the study (in Marine jargon, they were "voluntold" to participate).2007, W. Lewis Johnson, “Serious Use of a Serious Game for Language Learning”, in Rosemary Luckin, Kenneth R. Koedinger, Jim Greer, editors, Artificial Intelligence in Education: Building Technology Rich Learning Contexts that Work, Amsterdam: IOS Press, →ISBN, page 71:
4 more examples
- “I see I’ve been voluntold to be a team leader,” said Rudi Samson, a project manager. “What do I need to do as team leader?”2007, Jeff Pallister, “Work through Teams”, in Chain Reaction: A Business Novel: The Executive’s Action Plan for Turning Creativity and Teamwork into Sustainable Profits, Calgary, Alta.: Pallister Resource Management, →ISBN, part II (Transformation), page 69:
- Hanging out with a gunnery sergeant, especially Gunny Yates, was dangerous for a sergeant. The threat of being volunteered (voluntold) for working parties always loomed.2009 March, Clint Van Winkle, chapter 11, in Soft Spots: A Marine’s Memoir of Combat and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, New York, N.Y.: St. Martin’s Press, →ISBN, page 141:
- Studies I completely made up show that 84 percent of voluntold incidents originate with your parents or your spouse. You're enjoying a perfectly normal day when your mom will say, "Hey, I volunteered you to teach the next door neighbors' grandparents from China how to drive."2010, Jonathan Acuff, “Missional Postmodern Relevance”, in Stuff Christians Like, Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, →ISBN, page 180:
- Another caution: while it may be up to you to volunteer for tasks, it often isn't up to you if a higher-up "voluntells" you for a task by assigning it, but making it look like it is optional for you to accept it.2021, Gorick Ng, “Be Proactive”, in The Unspoken Rules: Secrets to Starting Your Career Off Right, Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business Review Press, →ISBN: