Quietly or obediently, without concern for or knowledge of some danger or trouble that one is facing. When I did business with Michael, I was like a lamb being led to the slaughter—I had no idea he was such a criminal mastermind. The poor kid and his defense team had no idea what the prosecution had in store—it was like lambs being led to the slaughter the moment the trial began. The six employees were unaware the meetings were to tell them they'd been laid off, and they each marched down to the meeting room like a lamb being led to slaughter.