string along
Britishverb
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to agree or appear to be in agreement (with)
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to accompany
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Also: string on. (tr) to deceive, fool, or hoax, esp in order to gain time
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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]
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Agree, as in We knew that three committee members would string along with us for now . [ Colloquial ; first half of 1900s]
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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]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Deceiving ourselves that way is foolish; using that lie to string along our loved ones is pitiless.
From Salon • Apr. 10, 2023
While these changes will improve access for an additional segment of adolescents, many will unfortunately continue to string along on wait lists.
From Washington Post • Sep. 3, 2021
After a 10-race card on Wednesday, it was refreshing to see such a big cutback in order to string along a series of 40 races a week.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 18, 2019
"Typically in the form of payments designed to string along victims so as to prevent Mr. Avenatti's financial house of cards from collapsing."
From Fox News • Apr. 11, 2019
Frankie had wilted away into the night, so I thought I'd string along with Doreen.
From "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
