Con Someone Into Doing vs. Con Someone To Do
Cambridge Business English directly gives con + object + into (doing) something for tricking a person into an action. The cited entry does not establish con + object + to-infinitive as an equally documented alternative, so the guide preserves that evidence boundary.
Use “con someone into doing something” for the directly documented action pattern; do not assume “con someone to do” is equally supported by this evidence.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| trick a person into an action | con + person + into + -ing | Use the directly documented construction. |
| name the person deceived without stating the resulting action | con + person | A following “into” phrase is needed only when the induced action is named. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Are you naming the action the person was tricked into performing?
If yes: Use “con someone into” + -ing.
If no: Do not infer “con someone to do” as an equally supported parallel from this evidence.
Caveat: Choose by the documented meaning or construction; a different pattern may be valid in a different sentence structure.
Examples
The caller conned him into revealing the code.
The -ing phrase names the induced action.
They tried to con customers into paying twice.
“Into” introduces what the customers were tricked into doing.
The scheme conned several customers.
The object can be stated without naming a resulting action.
Further guidance
Boundary
The cited entry does not establish con + object + to-infinitive as an equally documented alternative, so the guide preserves that evidence boundary.
Construction
Cambridge Business English directly gives con + object + into (doing) something for tricking a person into an action.
Decision
Use “con someone into doing something” for the directly documented action pattern; do not assume “con someone to do” is equally supported by this evidence.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- con — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Business English construction con someone into (doing) something