n. 1 line, cord, thread, twine, fibre, rope, cable, ligament, strand, filament To fly a kite one needs the right weight of string 2 leash, lead, leader Why does he let her drag him around on the end of a string? 3 line, row, series, sequence, succession, chain, procession, stream, train, file, Chiefly Brit queue A string of coincidences led to their meeting again after twenty years 4 necklace, chain, loop, strand, dog-collar, choker, chaplet, wreath, rivière, Archaic carcanet In her hair was a string of pearls 5 pull strings or wires. use or exert influence, Colloq throw one's weight around He had to pull strings to get his son a job on the paper 6 pull the strings. be in control, control, run, operate, dominate, be in command, be in the driver's seat, hold the reins, manipulate She is the one who pulls the strings when it comes to new investments 7 strings. conditions, stipulations, provisos, qualifications, requirements, prerequisites, terms, obligations, limitations, provisions, musts, Colloq catches I might have known that there would be strings attached to their offer of a free holiday in Corfu
v. 8 thread, join The children were busy stringing beads to make necklaces 9 Often, string together or up. loop, festoon, link, drape, suspend, sling, hang, array, concatenate, chain together At holiday time, coloured lights are strung round the town square 10 string along. a follow, go along (with), agree, concur, collaborate I said I would string along with the plan for the time being b keep waiting or dangling, keep on a string, keep on tenterhooks, Colloq play fast and loose with (someone) She's just stringing you along till her boyfriend comes back c fool, deceive, bluff, dupe, cheat, trick, hoax, Colloq take someone for a ride, put one or something over on (someone) They strung Harold along for months before they made off with his life savings 11 string out. a stretch, reach, extend The line of refugees strung out as far as one could see b delay, postpone, drag out, protract, spin out He strung out the repayment for as long as possible 12 string up. hang, lynch He knew that if the jury didn't convict him the townspeople would string him up