string along

verb

1. to agree or appear to be in agreement (with)

2. to accompany

3. Also: string on. (tr) to deceive, fool, or hoax, esp in order to gain time

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Agree, as in We knew that three committee members would string along with us for now . [ Colloquial ; first half of 1900s]

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

I take pride in being able to do that and letting them go because otherwise keeping them stringing along would be more hurtful to them.

From Salon

His left hand hovers over the strings along the neck, a cylindrical tube held between his thumb and middle finger drawing the metallic tones into a smooth glissando when it touches steel.

From Los Angeles Times

Deceiving ourselves that way is foolish; using that lie to string along our loved ones is pitiless.

From Salon

But even though Belly is whiny, somewhat selfish and definitely stringing along various guys as she tries to figure out her own feelings, Tung's winning portrayal is what affords Belly a heaping helping of grace.

From Salon

He had to string along the stupid Jewish girl with that phony story about his grandmother and the Holocaust.

From Literature