tan ‧ ta ‧ lize BrE AmE ( also tantalise British English ) /ˈtænt ə l-aɪz/ verb [intransitive and transitive]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: Tantalus king in an ancient Greek story who had to stand up to his chin in water under a fruit tree, but was unable to reach either the water to drink or the fruit to eat ]
to show or promise something that someone really wants, but then not allow them to have it