lead (one) (on) a (merry) chase
lead (one) (on) a (merry) chase
To waste one's time or cause someone a great deal of confusion through deceitful, manipulative, or inexplicable behavior. You should have just said you weren't interested in investing from the beginning, rather than leading us a chase for three weeks! If someone in whom you are uninterested is pursuing you romantically, do not lead them on a merry chase—make your feelings clear from the get go.
See also: chase, lead
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
lead someone on a merry chase
Fig. to lead someone in a purposeless pursuit. What a waste of time. You really led me on a merry chase. Jane led Bill on a merry chase trying to find an antique lamp.
See also: chase, lead, merry, on
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
lead a chase
Also, lead a merry chase or dance . Mislead someone; waste someone's time. For example, Mary refuses to commit herself and is leading John a merry chase, or Harry led us all a dance; we were waiting at the hotel and he'd gone to the movies. [First half of 1500s]
See also: chase, lead
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
- lead (one) (on) a merry dance
- lead a chase
- lead on a merry chase
- lead somebody a dance
- lead someone a dance
- lead someone a merry dance
- rob (one) blind
- rob blind
- rob somebody blind
- rob someone blind