dandle Definition
- 1to move a baby or young child up and down in a playful or affectionate way
- 2to treat someone with too much care or kindness, in a way that shows a lack of respect
Using dandle: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "dandle" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
She dandled the baby on her knee.
Example
He was dandled by his mother all his life.
Example
The boss dandles his favorite employees, giving them special treatment.
Example
Don't dandle him too much, he needs to learn to be independent.
dandle Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with dandle
Example
The government has been dandling with the issue of climate change for years.
to offer something attractive to someone in order to persuade them to do something
Example
The company dangled a big bonus in front of him to get him to accept the job offer.
Example
The CEO had the board of directors dandling on a string, doing whatever he wanted.
Origins of dandle
from Middle English 'dandlen', meaning 'to dance'
Summary: dandle in Brief
The verb 'dandle' [ˈdændl] means to move a baby or young child up and down in a playful or affectionate way, or to treat someone with too much care or kindness. It can be used in phrases like 'dandle with,' meaning to deal with something in a way that is not serious or effective, and 'dandle on a string,' meaning to have complete control over someone. Synonyms include 'coddle' and 'pamper,' while antonyms include 'neglect' and 'mistreat.'