string along

keep someone hoping by making false promises over time

C2

What does "string sb along" mean?

To string someone along means to keep deceiving them over an extended period by making promises you have no intention of keeping, or by allowing them to believe something that isn't true. The deception is rarely a single lie — it unfolds gradually, sustained by false hope, vague assurances, or deliberate misdirection. The person doing the stringing along typically benefits from keeping the other person in this uncertain state: a partner avoids a difficult breakup, an employer keeps a candidate available while pursuing others, or a business contact delays a rejection to maintain leverage. What distinguishes this verb from a simple lie is its duration — weeks, months, or even years of sustained misleading. Because the deception is ongoing, you'll most naturally encounter it in continuous or perfect continuous tenses.

Examples

How to use it

string + pronoun + along

The most natural pattern — pronoun objects are extremely common and must always sit between the verb and particle.

She finally admitted she'd been stringing him along for over a year with no intention of committing.

string + noun phrase + along

Used when the victim is referred to by name or description rather than a pronoun; short noun phrases separate naturally.

The recruiter kept stringing the candidates along with vague updates about the timeline.

be strung along (+ for + duration)

The passive is very natural and common, foregrounding the victim's experience; a time expression reinforces the sustained nature of the deception.

He only realised he'd been strung along for months when the deal quietly fell through.

keep + stringing + object + along

The 'keep + -ing' construction emphasises the repeated, deliberate nature of the deception over time.

Why does she keep stringing him along if she has no interest in the relationship?

string + object + along + with + false promises / false hope

Adding 'with + noun phrase' specifies the means of deception — what false promises or pretexts were used.

The startup strung its early investors along with promises of a product launch that never materialised.

Common Collocations

string someone along for months/yearsstring someone along with promisesbeen strung alongkeep stringing someone alongstop stringing someone alongfeel strung along

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placement

With pronoun objects, the pronoun must always go between 'string' and 'along'. Placing it after 'along' is ungrammatical in this construction.

✗ He strung along her for months before she finally confronted him.
✓ He strung her along for months before she finally confronted him.
Confusing with the 'accompany' sense

'String along' has a completely separate intransitive meaning — to come along or join a group — which should not be confused with this deceptive sense. The deceptive sense always requires a human victim as the object.

✗ She strung along to the meeting to see what would happen.
✓ She tagged along to the meeting to see what would happen.
Confusing with 'lead on'

'Lead on' typically refers to making someone believe you are romantically interested and can describe a brief or ambiguous situation. 'String along' specifically implies calculated, prolonged deception with false promises — it carries a stronger sense of sustained manipulation over time.

✗ He led her on for two years with constant promises of marriage.
✓ He strung her along for two years with constant promises of marriage.

Usage

This is an informal phrasal verb used mainly in spoken English and casual writing. It almost always implies deception lasting weeks, months, or years, which is why you'll most often see it in continuous or perfect continuous tenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I see 'string along' so often in continuous tenses? Can I use the simple present?

Because the deception in 'string along' is by definition ongoing and sustained, continuous and perfect continuous tenses ('has been stringing along', 'was stringing along') capture its meaning most naturally. The simple present can sound odd unless you are describing a known, established habit — it rarely fits the dynamic, unfolding nature of the deception this verb describes.

Does 'string along' always involve romantic situations?

Not at all — romance is just one common context. The verb is equally natural in professional settings, such as a company stringing along a job applicant with vague feedback, or a business contact stringing along a potential partner with promises that never lead anywhere. The common thread is false hope maintained over time, whatever the relationship.

Can I use 'string along' in formal writing or professional emails?

No — this is a distinctly informal expression. In formal or professional writing, you would use alternatives like 'misled', 'kept in a state of false expectation', or 'made misleading assurances to'. Reserve 'string along' for casual conversation, personal narratives, or informal journalism.

Is 'feel strung along' a natural expression?

Yes, very natural. 'Feel strung along' captures the victim's subjective sense of having been deceived, and it's a common way to describe the realisation that someone's promises were never genuine. For example: 'By the end of the negotiations, the whole team felt strung along.'

What kinds of promises or situations typically feature in 'string along' sentences?

The most common contexts are romantic promises (such as committing to a relationship or marriage), job offers that keep being delayed, business or investment deals with no clear progress, and financial commitments that are repeatedly deferred. The key is that the person deceived has been waiting and hoping based on assurances that were never sincere.

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