jerk around
Waste someone's time
To jerk someone around is to treat them inconsiderably, wasting their time or misleading them with changing demands or false promises: The insurance company jerked us around for months before finally paying the claim.
Stop jerking me around and give me a straight answer.
The phrase implies frustration at being toyed with rather than dealt with honestly.
Cause false belief
- string alongDeceive by prolonging hope
- lead onFalsely encourage someone's hopes
- foolUnwise, gullible person
- dupeDeceive or victim
trick · con · bamboozle · hoodwink · play games · mess with · put on · snow
Enclosed compartment or delay
- string alongDeceive by prolonging hope
- drag feetDeliberately delay progress
- waste timeUse moments unproductively
- hold upDelay or armed robbery
put off · drag out · dodge · evade · sidestep · hem and haw · avoid · brush off
Notable act or abuse
- playRecreation or staged drama
- usePut into service
- toy withEngage halfheartedly with
- controlAuthority to direct
dominate · coerce · pressure · bully · strong-arm · puppet · take advantage · pull strings
mislead
Cause false belief
- string alongDeceive by prolonging hope
- lead onFalsely encourage someone's hopes
- foolUnwise, gullible person
dupe · trick · con · bamboozle · hoodwink · play games · mess with · put on · snow · bluff
stall
Enclosed compartment or delay
- string alongDeceive by prolonging hope
- drag feetDeliberately delay progress
- waste timeUse moments unproductively
hold up · put off · drag out · dodge · evade · sidestep · hem and haw · avoid · brush off · blow off
exploit
Notable act or abuse
control · dominate · coerce · pressure · bully · strong-arm · puppet · take advantage · pull strings
jerk aroundlevel with
Speak honestly to
play fair · tell the truth · come clean · lay it on the line · put one's cards on the table
jerk arounddo right by
Fulfill obligations honorably
honor · value · support · take seriously · help