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string out

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string something out

 

1. Lit. to unwind, stretch, or straighten something, such as wire, and extend it. The workers strung the wires out before installing them. They strung out the wires first.

2. Fig. to cause something to take more time than it ought to. Is there any good reason to string this meeting out any longer? Don't string out the meetings so long.

See also: out, string

string out something

also string something out

1. to make something continue Zeb hoped he could string out his vacation as long as possible. The legal process could string this dispute out for years.

2. to be spread in a long, thin line Most of Canada's population is strung out along its border with the United States. The early fast pace soon strung the field of runners out over more than a mile.

See also: out, string

string out

1. Stretch, extend; also, prolong. For example, The parade strung out for miles, or The meetings strung out over weeks instead of days. [First half of 1800s]

2. strung out. Addicted to, stupefied by, or debilitated by drug use, as in She was completely strung out when they found her. [Second half of 1900s]

See also: out, string

string out

v.

1. To make something longer than usual or necessary; prolong something: The prosecution strung out the trial hoping to get the time to gather more evidence. We've already said everything that needs to be said in this conversation, so why do you keep trying to string it out?

2. To spread out in a line. Used in the passive: From the plane, we could see small villages that were strung out along the coast.

3. Slang To become intoxicated, especially with an addictive opiate or stimulant. Used in the passive: He was so strung out that he couldn't talk. People started to suspect that the athlete was strung out on coke or booze, or both.

See also: out, string