Jolly Someone Into Doing vs. Jolly Someone To Do
Cambridge directly documents jolly someone into doing something for gently persuading someone by putting them in a good mood, labeling the verb mainly UK informal or US old-fashioned. The cited entry directly supports into + -ing; its definition paraphrases the meaning with “encourage someone to do” but does not thereby establish jolly + object + to-infinitive as the same construction.
Use “jolly someone into doing” for the directly documented pattern; do not infer equal support for “jolly someone to do.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| cheer, coax, or persuade a person into an action | jolly + person + into + -ing | Use the directly documented “jolly someone into doing” pattern. |
| assume person + to-infinitive is equivalent | jolly + person + to do | Do not infer equal support for this complement. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Are you describing someone being coaxed or encouraged into an action?
If yes: Use “jolly + person + into + -ing.”
If no: Recast rather than using a person + to-infinitive as a direct substitute.
Caveat: The reviewed source supports the “into + -ing” construction; other senses of “jolly” are outside this complement guide.
Examples
They jollied him into joining the photograph.
The action follows “into” plus -ing.
She managed to jolly the group into staying for dessert.
The group is coaxed into the continuing action.
He would not be jollied into changing his answer.
The passive preserves the documented complement.
Further guidance
Boundary
The cited entry directly supports into + -ing; its definition paraphrases the meaning with “encourage someone to do” but does not thereby establish jolly + object + to-infinitive as the same construction.
Construction
Cambridge directly documents jolly someone into doing something for gently persuading someone by putting them in a good mood, labeling the verb mainly UK informal or US old-fashioned.
Decision
Use “jolly someone into doing” for the directly documented pattern; do not infer equal support for “jolly someone to do.”
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.
- jolly — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Direct construction evidence for jolly someone into doing something