Meaning & use
stringing someone along
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“stringing someone along” is a form of “string someone along”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
phrasephrasal verbinformaldisapproving
Keeping someone hopeful with false promises or interest, when you do not intend to give them what they want.
Grammar: Takes an object between the words: string him along, not string along him.
Patterns
- string someone along
- keep stringing someone along
He kept stringing her along, saying the wedding would happen next year.
The company was stringing applicants along with vague emails.
Stop stringing me along and tell me if you are interested.
phrasephrasal verbinformal
Delaying a decision or promise on purpose while the other person keeps waiting and hoping.
Grammar: Often used in business: stringing a client along.
Patterns
- string someone along for something
The landlord was stringing us along about repairs for months.
They strung the supplier along until a cheaper offer appeared.
I felt I was being strung along over my promotion.
Word forms
| third person singular | strings someone along |
|---|---|
| past tense | strung someone along |
| past participle | strung someone along |
| -ing form | stringing someone along |
Common combinations
- string someone along for months
- She had strung him along for months.
- stop stringing someone along
- Stop stringing me along and say no.
- feel strung along
- I felt strung along throughout the interviews.
- accuse someone of stringing them along
- He accused the agent of stringing him along.
Synonyms and how they differ
- leading someone on
- Leading someone on is more often romantic, while stringing someone along also fits business and jobs.
- misleading
- Misleading is general and formal, with no sense of slowly keeping someone waiting.
- toying with
- Toying with suggests playing with someone's feelings for fun, and it has no connection to delay.
Opposites
Word family
- string noun
- a thin cord
- string along verb
- to mislead and keep hopeful
- strung verb
- past tense of string
Commonly confused: stringing someone along or going along with?
stringing someone along vs going along with
Going along with means agreeing to something, while stringing along is misleading someone.
Practice
For six months the manager promised me a raise but never gave it. He was ___.
Choose one answer.
Stringing someone along means keeping them hopeful with false promises. The other phrases do not carry that sense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “stringing someone along”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.