String someone along
Meaning
To deceive someone by leading them on with false promises or intentions, often over an extended period.
Origin
The phrase likely emerged from the literal action of guiding or leading someone or something by a string, much like a child with a toy or a puppeteer with a marionette. This image of subtle control, where one party holds the 'strings' and dictates the movement or pace of another, began to take on a more sinister, deceptive meaning in early 20th-century America. It captured the essence of a prolonged manipulation, where false hopes or intentions were dangled like bait, keeping the victim hooked and compliant, yet never truly delivering on the promised outcome.
Examples
- She kept stringing him along for months, making him believe they had a future together when she was already engaged to someone else.
- The company strung its employees along with promises of bonuses and promotions that never materialized, leading to widespread disillusionment.