merry dance
Pointless chase around
A merry dance is a runaround—a prolonged series of difficulties or evasions that someone puts you through: The insurance company led us on a merry dance for months before finally paying the claim.
The phrase is ironic; there's nothing merry about it.
Almost always appears with "lead" or "give."
Act of chasing something
- chaseRapid following of quarry
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- wild goose chaseHopeless pursuit of nothing
- runaroundEvasive, delaying response
dodging · sidestepping · elusiveness · slipperiness · cat and mouse · circling · deflection · stalling
Lighthearted playful movement
- rompPlayful, spirited activity
- caperPrank or pickled bud
- anticsAbsurd, attention-seeking behavior
- whimsyPlayful, capricious quality
mischief · teasing · jesting · tomfoolery · hijinks · lightheartedness · frivolity · prancing
Crafty and calculating
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
subterfuge · ploy · ruse · stratagem · gambit · intrigue · conniving · misleading
Intense weary annoyance
- irritationMild anger or inflammation
- annoyanceState of being bothered
- vexationFrustrated annoyance
- impatienceIntolerance of delay
aggravation · helplessness · futility · dead ends · brick walls · disappointment · dismay · bewilderment
pursuit
Act of chasing something
- chaseRapid following of quarry
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- wild goose chaseHopeless pursuit of nothing
runaround · dodging · sidestepping · elusiveness · slipperiness · cat and mouse · circling · deflection · stalling · delays
frolic
Lighthearted playful movement
whimsy · mischief · teasing · jesting · tomfoolery · hijinks · lightheartedness · frivolity · prancing · gamboling
scheming
Crafty and calculating
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
deception · subterfuge · ploy · ruse · stratagem · gambit · intrigue · conniving · misleading · stringing along
exasperation
Intense weary annoyance
- irritationMild anger or inflammation
- annoyanceState of being bothered
- vexationFrustrated annoyance
impatience · aggravation · helplessness · futility · dead ends · brick walls · disappointment · dismay · bewilderment · confusion
merry dancestraight dealing
Honest, transparent transactions
direct approach · plain dealing · straight talk · cutting to the chase · transparency
merry dancesmooth sailing
Untroubled progress forward
piece of cake · walk in the park · plain sailing · child's play · done deal
merry dancefair dealing
Honest, equitable conduct principle
good faith · respect · consideration · courtesy · square dealing
merry, dance, merrily, merriment, merrier, merriest, danced, dances, dancing