dandle

[ˈdændl]

dandle Definition

• 1. to move a baby or young child up and down in a playful or affectionate way
• 2. to 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

Synonyms for dandle

• pamper
• spoil
• coddle
• cosset
• pet

Antonyms for dandle

• neglect
• ignore
• mistreat

Phrases with dandle

• dandle with

  to deal with something in a way that is not serious or effective

  Example

  The government has been dandling with the issue of climate change for years.

• dandle in front of

  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.

• dandle on a string

  to have complete control over someone and make them do exactly what you want

  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.'