dangle Definition
- 1hang or swing loosely
- 2offer (something) as an incentive or enticement
Using dangle: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "dangle" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The keys were still dangling from the ignition.
Example
She dangled her feet in the water.
Example
He dangled the prospect of a promotion in front of me.
Example
The company dangled a signing bonus to attract new employees.
dangle Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with dangle
Example
The boss dangled a carrot in front of the employees, promising a bonus if they met their sales targets.
Example
The company's future was dangling by a thread after the CEO resigned.
offer something desirable to someone as an enticement or incentive
Example
The company dangled a big salary increase in front of the employee's nose to keep him from quitting.
Origins of dangle
from Middle English 'danglen', meaning 'to cause to dangle'
Summary: dangle in Brief
The verb 'dangle' [ˈdaŋɡ(ə)l] means to hang or swing loosely, as in 'The keys were still dangling from the ignition.' It can also mean to offer something as an incentive or enticement, as in 'He dangled the prospect of a promotion in front of me.' The phrase 'dangle a carrot' means to offer something desirable as an incentive, while 'dangle by a thread' means to be in a precarious position.
