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Glite Dictionary
⏳ To make longer 📏 To spread in line
to string out

to string out

2 6.3
To make something last longer than needed, often on purpose
  • phrasal verb
  • /strɪŋ aʊt/
  • Informal
translation icon : prolongar
  • She always manages to string out her visits, making them last longer than planned.

Examples

  • So he strung it out for as long as he could, collected cash gifts for almost two years, and finally gave them a delivery date.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • We think we all got it under control and won't get strung out.

    The Basketball Diaries (1995)

  • Of course raise prices, cut costs, slow down, string out payment terms, run an actual Of course you have no patience.

  • But she sure strung me out anyway.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Everything that could be executed in a few days is strung out for a week or two.

    Blog text (17)

  • His continuing existence depended on his ability to string out an inherently dull scientific lecture.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • The writers could have strung out the discovery of the video card for half a season or more, but Saul found it in the second episode.

    Blog text (25)

  • Because no matter how many zeroes you string out on the debt, the fact remains that our standard of living, our economy, and the value of our money all depend on the USA remaining the top superpower and the USD remaining the world reserve currency.

    Blog text (4)

  • So for us, the pattern was pretty much the same as the NHS, but the process was strung out for a few more months—possibly because our mood for a fight wouldn't dry up as quickly as our health worker colleagues.

    Blog text (13)

  • The committee decided to string out the negotiations to buy more time for discussions.

Synonyms

to prolong
vsto string out
96 3.9

To make something last longer

often implies unnecessary or deliberate prolonging instead of neutral extension
to drag out
vsto string out
  • Informal
23 5.1

Make something last longer than needed, causing boredom or frustration

focuses on extending for no real reason rather than causing boredom
to draw out
vsto string out
9 4.0

Make a conversation or event last longer than usual

often stresses unnecessary or deliberate prolonging rather than neutral extension
to protract
vsto string out
4 7.8

To make something last longer than it needs to

tends to highlight unnecessary or deliberate extension
to spin out
vsto string out
  • Informal
1 5.6

To make something last longer than needed

often implies the lengthening is unnecessary or done on purpose
to spin-out
vsto string out
  • Informal
6.7

To make something last longer by making it finish later

is similar but can be unnecessary without deliberate intent

Antonyms

to terminate
147 4.6

To make something stop or finish

to shorten
45 2.3

Make something shorter, for example an article, skirt, or route

How Long

to drag out
  • Informal
23 5.1
to draw out
9 4.0
to string out
  • Informal
2 6.3
to prolong
96 3.9
to extend
680 3.2

Surface Forms

string out infinitive
stringing out present participle
strings out third person singular
strung out past
strung out past participle

Morphology

string + out

The meaning 'to make something continue or last longer' is not directly derivable from the literal senses of 'string' (to thread) and 'out' (away), so a learner knowing only the constituents would not fully predict it. However, the idea of extending a line and the particle 'out' suggesting extension/continuation parallels other phrasal verbs (e.g. 'draw out', 'drag out'), so the sense is partly inferable from metaphorical extension and common particle usage.

Etymology

String out may come from the idea of pulling a piece of string slowly so it reaches further and the action goes on. That's why it means 'to make something continue or last longer than necessary'.