Idioms for string
- to use one's influence or authority, usually in secret, in order to bring about a desired result.
- to gain or attempt to gain one's objectives by means of influential friends, associates, etc.: He had his uncle pull strings to get him a promotion.
on a/the string, Informal.
subject to the whim of another; in one's power; dependent: After keeping me on a string for two months, they finally hired someone else.
pull strings/wires,
Origin of string
before 900; (noun) Middle English
string, streng, Old English
streng; cognate with Dutch
streng, German
Strang; akin to Latin
stringere to bind; (v.) late Middle English
stringen to string a bow, derivative of the noun
OTHER WORDS FROM string
string·less, adjective string·like, adjective re·string, verb, re·strung, re·string·ing.Words nearby string
striking train,
strimmer,
strimon,
strindberg,
strine,
string,
string along,
string bag,
string band,
string bass,
string bean
British Dictionary definitions for string along (1 of 2)
string along
verb (adverb) informal
(intr often foll by with)
to agree or appear to be in agreement (with)
(intr often foll by with)
to accompany
Also: string on (tr)
to deceive, fool, or hoax, esp in order to gain time
British Dictionary definitions for string along (2 of 2)
string
/ (strɪŋ) /
noun
verb strings, stringing or strung (strʌŋ)
Derived forms of string
stringlike, adjectiveWord Origin for string
Old English
streng; related to Old High German
strang, Old Norse
strengr; see
strong
Idioms and Phrases with string along (1 of 2)
string along
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]
Agree, as in We knew that three committee members would string along with us for now. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]
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]
Idioms and Phrases with string along (2 of 2)
string