踊おどらす

お

ど

ら

す

Meanings

1

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

manipulate; lead astray; make someone dance to one's tune

Figurative use: to control or influence someone's actions for one's own benefit, often with a negative connotation. The person being manipulated is marked with を.

Written forms

踊おどらすUsage90%
Standard kanji spelling for the transitive verb.
おどらすUsage10%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the figurative sense is intended.

Kanji

踊jump, dance, leap

Similar words

踊おどらせる
踊らせる is the more common causative form of 踊る, used for both literal and figurative meanings. 踊らす is a slightly older or more literary variant with the same meanings, but 踊らせる is preferred in modern Japanese.
操あやつる
操る also means 'to manipulate', but it often implies direct control like operating a machine or pulling strings. 踊らす emphasizes making someone act according to one's will, often through deception or cleverness.

Etymology

Causative form of 踊る (おどる, 'to dance'), formed by attaching the classical causative auxiliary す to the stem. The figurative sense developed from the idea of making someone dance to one's tune.