string along

British  

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

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string along Idioms  

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]

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Example Sentences

Turner, who has worked at the university since 2009, said the “stringing along” of layoffs has sent morale plummeting, which “inevitably is going to trickle down to the students.”

From Los Angeles Times

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