string along
Related to string along: strung along
string along
1. To choose or be allowed to accompany or follow someone. I decided to string along and see if they found anything interesting. Do you mind if my little brother strings along with us? My parents want him to get out of the house for a while.
2. To participate or cooperate in an activity or scheme. I'm sorry, but I just can't string along with this. It's wrong. The accountant was sentenced to five years in prison for stringing along with the organized crime syndicate.
3. To act in accordance or agreement with someone else or their actions. If the cops show up at the house because the party's too loud, just string along with whatever I say. I don't know how you convinced the board to string along, but they've approved your proposal.
4. To cause someone to remain in a state of uncertainty or expectation, usually to achieve some end. I feel like they've been stringing us along so that we'll agree to the lower price just to have the deal finished. She's not stringing you along, Jim—she's just being your friend, but you're trying to pretend there's a chance she likes you romantically.
See also: string
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
string someone along
to maintain someone's attention or interest, probably insincerely. You are just stringing me along because you like to borrow my car. You are not a real friend. Rachel strung her along for the sake of old times.
See also: string
string along
(with someone)1. to follow with someone. Do you mind if I string along with you? I don't mind if you string along.
2. to agree with someone's policies and actions. Okay. I will string along with you this time, but I don't know about the future. I would appreciate it if you would string along just this one time.
See also: string
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
string along
1. Go along with someone, accompany or follow, as in I decided to string along with them, just to see what might happen. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]
2. Agree, as in We knew that three committee members would string along with us for now. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]
3. string someone along. Keep someone waiting or in a state of uncertainty; also, fool or deceive someone. For example, We were stringing them along, hoping that we'd get a better offer, or She was in tears when she found out that he'd just been stringing her along. [Colloquial; c. 1900]
See also: string
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
string along
v.
1. To keep someone waiting or in a state of uncertainty: The company strung along the job candidate for two weeks before hiring someone else. After I proposed, my girlfriend strung me along for a month before rejecting me.
2. To fool, cheat, or deceive someone: I am worried that they have no intentions of buying the house at all, but are just stringing us along. The con artist strung along the tourists for an hour before they caught on.
3. To agree; go along: They strung along with the plan despite its obvious flaws.
See also: string
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- tag along after (someone)
- tag along behind (someone)
- accompany (one) on a/(one's) journey
- accompany on a journey
- tag along
- see to some place
- come with
- come with (someone or something)
- come along for the ride
- show (one) into (some place)