a coined variation of string along, meaning to deceive or fool; to
lead on dishonestly, especially (of a person) to put or keep in a
state of misplaced
confidence by apparent
compliance or encouragement. This
phrase alludes to keeping someone dangling on the end of a string while one makes up one's
mind. (A bend is a
knot used to fasten one
rope to another
rope, or to fasten a
rope to an
object.)