jerking around
Stringing someone along
Jerking around means wasting time or behaving aimlessly: Stop jerking around and get to work.
It also means deliberately misleading or toying with someone—giving them the runaround: The insurance company has been jerking us around for months.
The phrase suggests either idle foolishness or manipulative evasion, depending on context.
- foolingTricking or joking
- pullForce toward oneself
- snapSudden sharp sound
- teasingPlayful, mild ridicule
- twitchingInvoluntary muscular contractions
twist · pulling my leg · loafing · dawdling · killing time · shirking · procrastination · mocking · shake · joking · flailing · playing games · jolting · clowning · pranking · spasming · meddling · runaround
jerking aroundbeing honest
Stating facts sincerely
leveling with · telling it like it is · laying cards on the table · plain dealing
jerking aroundgetting down to business
Focusing on the task
meaning business · committing · cutting to the chase · following through · delivering