dangle

 
Pronunciation: /ˈdaŋg(ə)l/

verb

[no object, with adverbial of place]
  • hang or swing loosely: saucepans dangled from a rail [with object]: they were dangling their legs over the water
  • [with object] offer (an enticing incentive) to someone: the defence portfolio could be the carrot to dangle before him

Phrases

keep someone dangling

keep someone in an uncertain position: he was kept dangling—offered a place in the team and then dropped

Derivatives

dangler

noun

dangly

adjective

Origin:

late 16th century: symbolic of something loose and pendulous, corresponding to Danish dangle, Swedish dangla, but the origin is unclear