Frogmarch for Dummies

Teacher: Hey there! I'm here to help you understand the word "Frogmarch." Now, have you ever seen a frog hopping around? Imagine if someone were to grab a frog by its arms and legs and make it walk on its hindlegs like a human. Pretty funny image, right? Well, that's the literal image we have in mind here.

The word "Frogmarch" is a verb that means to force someone to walk forward with their hands held behind their back by clasping their upper arms. It's like when someone is caught doing something wrong and they are forcefully led away, sometimes with their head lowered and struggling to maintain balance. Similar to how a frog's movements might be clumsy if it were standing on two legs.

Now, in a more figurative sense, "Frogmarch" can also describe the act of being humiliated or forced to do something against your will. Think of it as being embarrassed or coerced into doing something, like when you're pushed to apologize for something you didn't do or admit to a wrongdoing you're innocent of. It's a way of making someone feel small and powerless, just like that poor frog getting marched around on its hindlegs.

So, basically, "Frogmarch" means coercing someone to walk forward with their arms held behind their back, either physically or in a metaphorical sense, making them feel embarrassed, humiliated, or powerless. It's like being frog-legged, but not in a fun, hopping-around way like the frogs we see at the pond!