lead on

faire espérer, faire marcher

Faire croire à quelqu’un qu’on souhaite une relation amoureuse avec lui alors que ce n’est pas le cas.

En anglais simple : To make someone think you want a romantic relationship when you do not.

• She was leading him on.
• Do you like me, or are you just leading me on?
• He led her on even though he was already married.

Comment l'utiliser : lead someone on (I stopped flirting because I did not want to lead him on.)

Synonymes : string along

Expressions courantes : lead someone on, lead a friend on

tromper, donner de faux espoirs

Faire croire quelque chose de faux à quelqu’un, souvent en lui donnant l’espoir d’une issue heureuse.

En anglais simple : To make someone believe something false, often by giving them hope that something good will happen.

• They led us on with false promises.
• The agent is leading buyers on about the likely price.
• Were you leading me on about that job?

Comment l'utiliser : lead someone on (The seller led us on with promises of a quick profit.)

Synonymes : mislead, deceive

Expressions courantes : lead someone on, lead people on

guider, conduire

Guider quelqu’un plus loin sur un chemin ou vers un lieu.

En anglais simple : To guide someone further along a path or towards a place.

• Lead on; we will follow.
• She led us on through the forest.
• The guide led the group on towards the lake.

Comment l'utiliser : lead someone on to somewhere (The guide led us on to the next village.)

Synonymes : guide, lead forward

Expressions courantes : lead someone on, lead on ahead