e.g. “I was roped into doing it”
From what I can find on the web, “know the ropes” originates either from sailing or theatre. “On the ropes” may originate from boxing.
The one article I found related to “roped into” explained that in Ancient Greece, slaves were sent to the streets with ropes dipped in paint to mark any citizens who were refusing to vote. This article didn’t have any sources, and while Ancient Greece was a strange place, I’m still skeptical.
Does anyone have a source for the origin of the phrase “roped into”?