dangle
verb /ˈdæŋɡl/
/ˈdæŋɡl/
Verb Forms
Idioms | present simple I / you / we / they dangle | /ˈdæŋɡl/ /ˈdæŋɡl/ |
| he / she / it dangles | /ˈdæŋɡlz/ /ˈdæŋɡlz/ |
| past simple dangled | /ˈdæŋɡld/ /ˈdæŋɡld/ |
| past participle dangled | /ˈdæŋɡld/ /ˈdæŋɡld/ |
| -ing form dangling | /ˈdæŋɡlɪŋ/ /ˈdæŋɡlɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to hang or move freely; to hold something so that it hangs or moves freely
- +adv./prep. Gold charms dangled from her bracelet.
- A single light bulb dangled from the ceiling.
- He sat on the edge with his legs dangling over the side.
- dangle something + adv./prep. She dangled her car keys nervously as she spoke.
- He dangled his legs over the edge of the bridge.
Extra Examples- His legs dangled over the side of the boat.
- Her arms dangled loosely by her sides.
- His foothold gave way, and he was left dangling from his rope.
- [transitive] dangle something (before/in front of somebody) to offer somebody something good in order to persuade them to do something
- He had a company directorship dangled in front of him.
- He dangled the prospect of enormous wealth before us.
- The boss wanted us to work more hours, dangling the carrot of well-paid overtime.
Word Originlate 16th cent.: symbolic of something loose and pendulous, corresponding to Danish dangle, Swedish dangla, but the origin is unclear.
Idioms
keep/leave somebody dangling
- (informal) to keep somebody in an uncertain state by not telling them something that they want to know
- She kept him dangling for a week before making her decision.