This verb literally means "be trapped, entrapped."

The verb von, usually translated as "trap, entrap," means "put (someone) in a position from which there is no escape." For a Klingon, to be in such a position, to be unable to fight back, is most dishonorable, especially since he or she is likely to be viewed in a helpless state. Thus, it is a sign of utter failure. The slang expression is used in such constructions as bIvonlu'pu' ("You have failed completely"; literally, "You have been trapped").

In standard Klingon, the same idea may be expressed by saying lujbej ("certainly fail"), lujchu' ("fail perfectly"), or lujqu' ("really fail"), all based on luj ("fail"). Note that luj is also used to mean "lose" (as in "lose at a game"). To say "I lose" is jIluj (jI-, "I"); to say "I lose in a big way" is jIlujqu' or jIlujchu'. The slang term vonlu' is not used in reference to games. It means "perform most inadequately, ineffectually, unsuccessfully" and is applied to one's performance as a warrior, tactician, political usurper, and the like.