string along: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium (common in informal/spoken contexts, less frequent in formal writing)Informal, often colloquial; can carry a negative or disapproving tone.
Quick answer
What does “string along” mean?
To deceptively keep someone engaged with false promises or hopes, often while delaying or avoiding commitment.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To deceptively keep someone engaged with false promises or hopes, often while delaying or avoiding commitment.
Can also mean to accompany someone casually or to go along with a plan or idea without full commitment, though the deceptive connotation is primary.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and meaning are virtually identical in both varieties. Slightly more common in American English.
Connotations
Consistently carries a connotation of manipulation, insincerity, or being kept in a state of uncertainty.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both; solidly part of the informal lexicon.
Grammar
How to Use “string along” in a Sentence
[Subject] + string + [Object] + along[Subject] + be + stringing + [Object] + alongVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “string along” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's been stringing her along for months with talk of a promotion.
- Don't let them string you along with empty guarantees.
American English
- She realized he was just stringing her along and broke up with him.
- The company strung the investors along until the funding fell through.
adverb
British English
- They went string-along to the party without any real interest.
American English
- He agreed string-along, never intending to follow through.
adjective
British English
- He had a string-along manner that annoyed everyone.
- I felt very string-along after the meeting.
American English
- It was a string-along tactic that backfired.
- She gave him a string-along excuse.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Informal talk about clients or investors being given false hope about a deal or funding.
Academic
Rare; might appear in sociological or linguistic studies of informal speech.
Everyday
Common in discussions about dishonest romantic, professional, or social relationships.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “string along”
- Using it without an object (*'He was just stringing along.' – incorrect if meaning 'deceiving'). Confusing it with 'get along'. Using it in formal contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely. The core meaning requires an object (the person being deceived). A rare intransitive use exists (e.g., 'I'll just string along for now'), but it implies 'going along without commitment' and is less common.
'String along' involves deception and an active agent doing the deceiving. 'Go along with' is more neutral, meaning to agree or acquiesce, often without strong personal commitment but not necessarily with intent to deceive.
It is informal and carries a strong negative judgment. Accusing someone of 'stringing you along' is a serious criticism of their honesty. It is not a swear word but is confrontational in tone.
Both 'strung along' (standard) and 'stringed along' (non-standard) are heard, but only 'strung along' is grammatically correct (analogous to 'ring/rang/rung').
To deceptively keep someone engaged with false promises or hopes, often while delaying or avoiding commitment.
String along is usually informal, often colloquial; can carry a negative or disapproving tone. in register.
String along: in British English it is pronounced /ˌstrɪŋ əˈlɒŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌstrɪŋ əˈlɔːŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Keep someone on a string”
- “Lead someone up the garden path”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a puppet master making a puppet (someone) dance by pulling its strings, but never letting it stop—'stringing it along'.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON BEING DECEIVED IS A PUPPET (controlled by false promises). TIME/ATTENTION AS A RESOURCE being wasted.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary connotation of 'string along'?