yanking around
Pulling in circles
To yank someone around is to jerk them back and forth—literally by pulling, or figuratively by giving conflicting directions, changing plans repeatedly, or wasting their time with indecision.
The phrase implies frustration at being manipulated or led on without resolution: Stop yanking me around and just tell me if I got the job.
Similar to jerking around.
- coercingForcing through intimidation
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
- stringing alongProlonged romantic deception
- leading onEncouraging without commitment
- jerkingAbrupt, spasmodic movement
exploiting · tugging · deceiving · gaslighting · messing with · manipulating · pulling strings · pulling · wrenching · controlling · power play · hauling · dragging · provoking · frustrating · twisting · snapping · confusing