# Phrase origins: "Stringing him along" and "let the chips fall where they may". **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 5, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-origins-stringing-him-along-and-let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may/458885 "2008-08-05T04:02:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-origins-stringing-him-along-and-let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may/458885/1 "2008-08-05T04:02:12Z")
Recently I have used both of the above phrases to describe situations in my life, and I was curious where they came from. I presume “stringing him along” (or me or her or whoever) comes from fishing somehow, but I don’t know enough about fishing to understand how it makes sense. Seems like the goal in fishing isn’t to “string him along” but to “reel him in”. I’m even less clear on “let the chips fall where they may”. My guess would be that it has something to do with gambling, not so much poker, but maybe some sort of older game. Not that I could guess at what. On the other hand, I could make up wild and implausible scenarios about it being how to determine guilt in age-old courts or something like that. So, does anyone know how where these two phrases originate? ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-origins-stringing-him-along-and-let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may/458885/2 "2008-08-05T04:14:10Z")
[QUOTE=BlueKangaroo] I presume “stringing him along” (or me or her or whoever) comes from fishing somehow, but I don’t know enough about fishing to understand how it makes sense. Seems like the goal in fishing isn’t to “string him along” but to “reel him in”. [/QUOTE] I don’t know for certain if this is the origin of that particular phrase, but, in fishing, once a fish is caught, you slide a string up through its gills and attach it to your belt. The fish is thus ‘strung’ along as you continue to fish. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-origins-stringing-him-along-and-let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may/458885/3 "2008-08-05T04:21:12Z")
‘Let the chips fall where they may’, I think means to concentrate on the task at hand and not to worry about the mess. Possibly from the act of cutting wood. The wood cutter will concentrate on swinging his axe so that it hits the log accurately, and doe snot worry where the (wood) chips fall. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-origins-stringing-him-along-and-let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may/458885/4 "2008-08-05T08:29:20Z")
[QUOTE=UncleRojelio] I don’t know for certain if this is the origin of that particular phrase, but, in fishing, once a fish is caught, you slide a string up through its gills and attach it to your belt. The fish is thus ‘strung’ along as you continue to fish. [/QUOTE] That doesn’t really fit with the meaning of the phrase - which is to intentionally play something longer than it needs to, or to fail to commit. There might still be a connection with angling - playing a fish to tire it out before reeling in - although I’m not sure if that’s ever called ‘stringing along’. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-origins-stringing-him-along-and-let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may/458885/5 "2008-08-05T08:35:29Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] ‘Let the chips fall where they may’, I think means to concentrate on the task at hand and not to worry about the mess. Possibly from the act of cutting wood. The wood cutter will concentrate on swinging his axe so that it hits the log accurately, and doe snot worry where the (wood) chips fall. [/QUOTE] I don’t believe this is the exact meaning of the term - it’s more about deliberate abandonment to fate or destiny than simple carelessness. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-origins-stringing-him-along-and-let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may/458885/6 "2008-08-05T11:53:25Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] ‘Let the chips fall where they may’, I think means to concentrate on the task at hand and not to worry about the mess. Possibly from the act of cutting wood. The wood cutter will concentrate on swinging his axe so that it hits the log accurately, and doe snot worry where the (wood) chips fall. [/QUOTE] **Johnny** basically has it correct. The phrase seems to be from the US, and is found from the 1850’s as “Hew to the line, let the chips fall where they will,” and “I hew to the line, and let the chips fly in whose face they will.” Definitely related to wood working in some sense. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-origins-stringing-him-along-and-let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may/458885/7 "2008-08-05T12:01:56Z")
There’s no indication that _stringing along_ has any connection with fishing. Earliest cite in OED is 1869. > [@](#): > > string, v. > > 12 d. To extend or continue. Const. along, out. to string along with: to accompany, to agree with, to support or go along with (usu. without undue enthusiasm). Occas. without const. colloq. (orig. U.S.). > > 1869 ‘MARK TWAIN’ Lett. to Publishers (1967) 21 So much of the 400 or 500 pages still left are reprint, and so will string out a heap. 1877 in Atlantic Monthly Nov. 591/1 Isaac knelt down and began to pray: he strung along, and strung along..till everybody had got tired. 1896 in Harper’s Mag. Aug. 351/2 Well, the time strung along and along, and that fellow never come! 1927 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) Nov. 67/2 To this day the B. F. Keith chain call the small-time ‘The Family Time’ but the players still string along with the theatrical paper [sc. Variety]. 1937 J. STEINBECK Of Mice & Men 59 Funny how you an’ him string along together. 1946 Sun (Baltimore) 31 May 15/1 The majority of the bettors decided to string along with Blind Path, a well bred youngster making his seasonal debut. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-origins-stringing-him-along-and-let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may/458885/8 "2008-08-05T14:13:21Z")
I always assumed that “stringing along” came directly from fishing, I always thought fly fishing. I grew up in the days before super fishing line and one “played” a trout so as not to lose him and a fly the fisherman spent hours making. When coaching me after I had hooked a brown or rainbow, my father would often say to “string him (the fish) along” thus lulling the fish into a false sense of security before reeling him in. Years later when fishing for larger game fish in the pacific I heard fishermen use the same phrase. I am pretty sure **Johnny L.A.** is correct regarding chopping or using an adz on wood for “let the chips fall where they may” ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-origins-stringing-him-along-and-let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may/458885/9 "2008-08-05T14:20:02Z")
Well, looks like both of my guesses were way off. Good reason to come to the Dope for answers! It’s interesting to me that “let the chips fall where they may” comes from wood working, as I’d never have guessed that. I’d still love to know more, particularly about “stringing him along”, but I really wanted to thank everyone for what’s up so far. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-origins-stringing-him-along-and-let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may/458885/10 "2008-08-05T14:23:17Z")
“Let the chips fall where they may” is probably primarily about hewing wood, but it could also be about the similar process of carving stone, where the small pieces of stone that are removed by your chisel are also called chips. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-origins-stringing-him-along-and-let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may/458885/11 "2008-08-05T14:28:55Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] The wood cutter will concentrate on swinging his axe so that it hits the log accurately, and doe snot worry where the (wood) chips fall. [/QUOTE] Doe snot is problematic when chopping wood. Slippery stuff. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-origins-stringing-him-along-and-let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may/458885/12 "2008-08-05T16:09:36Z")
[QUOTE=samclem] **Johnny** basically has it correct. The phrase seems to be from the US, and is found from the 1850’s as “Hew to the line, let the chips fall where they will,” and “I hew to the line, and let the chips fly in whose face they will.” Definitely related to wood working in some sense. [/QUOTE] Thanks. I stand corrected and surprised. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-origins-stringing-him-along-and-let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may/458885/13 "2008-08-05T23:56:52Z")
About “stringing along.” I’ll have to come back later tonight. Much more complicated. Two meanings. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-origins-stringing-him-along-and-let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may/458885/14 "2008-08-06T00:34:36Z")
random guess here, but I’m familiar with a ‘string bet’ in poker (which is highly frowned upon, esp. in casinos.) Instead of properly raising in one statement, e.g. “I’ll raise you $10” when the amount to call is $4, and the raise is $6, a string bet is “I’ll see your $4 bet and I’ll raise you $6.” That could have an adverse effect of the play of the hand, so perhaps that’s where the phrase comes from? \ ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-origins-stringing-him-along-and-let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may/458885/15 "2008-08-06T00:42:13Z")
Huh. So, on that tangent, why would saying it differently have an adverse affect on the play? Thanks, **samclem**! I’m looking forward to seeing what you have to say on “stringing along”. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-origins-stringing-him-along-and-let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may/458885/16 "2008-08-07T00:24:34Z")
**aldiboronti** posted the meaning of “string along” from the OED which is the sense of “to continue with, or support, or go along with,” such as “I’ll string along with you for tonight.” But, if I read the OP correctly, I think the sense suggested by **Mangetout** is what we’re after > [@](#): > > to intentionally play something longer than it needs to, or to fail to commit. . IN the OED, this is listed as 15.b > [@](#): > > b. to string (someone) along: to fool or deceive (someone); spec. to encourage (someone) to remain in a state of misplaced confidence. Cf. sense 3c. colloq. (orig. U.S.). . This meaning is first cited from 1902. > [@](#): > > 1902 G. H. LORIMER Lett. Merchant xviii. 270 Clytie had been stringing the old lady along, intending to produce Bud’s spook as a sort of..climax. 1924 P. MARKS Plastic Age xviii. 206 I’m afraid that he’s just stringing me along, trying to encourage me. 1933 D. L. SAYERS Murder must Advertise ix. 158 He told me to string him along. And afterwards, quite suddenly, he told me to give him the push. 1943 K. TENNANT Ride on Stranger viii. 84 ‘If he was taking you to lunch..you might work us in somewhere.’ ‘String him along, kid,’ Douglas encouraged… ‘We’re with you.’ And the sense of 15b seems, IMHO, to derive from the older > [@](#): > > 1. a. trans. To fool, deceive, humbug. slang (now chiefly U.S.). 1812 J. H. VAUX Vocab. Flash Lang. in Mem. (1964) 251 To banter or jest with a man by amusing him with false assurances or professions, is also termed stringing him, or getting him in tow. 1846 Swell’s Night Guide 133/1 String, to, to impose on a person’s belief by some joke or lie. 1898 A. M. BINSTEAD Pink ‘Un & Pelican v. 115 She strung him for fifty bob on an old tea-chest an’ a jar o’ pickled inyuns! 1901 Munsey’s Mag. XXIV. 858/2 ‘Some one has been stringin’ those reporters!’ thought Dan. 1910 W. CHURCHILL Mod. Chron. I. ix. 114, I watched you last night when you were stringing the Vicomte. . My observation is, if you notice the first cite from 1812, that is still _could_ be from fishing. Not that it is, but it _could_ be. “Stringing him, or getting him in tow.” Of course, that could always simply be talking about using a rope or line, but the temptation is to relate it to fishing. Anyone else have a comment on my analysis? ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-origins-stringing-him-along-and-let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may/458885/17 "2008-08-07T00:28:19Z")
Thanks, **samclem**. That is the style of “stringing along” that I meant. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrase-origins-stringing-him-along-and-let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may/458885/18 "2008-08-07T00:42:11Z")
[QUOTE=samclem] My observation is, if you notice the first cite from 1812, that is still _could_ be from fishing. Not that it is, but it _could_ be. “Stringing him, or getting him in tow.” Of course, that could always simply be talking about using a rope or line, but the temptation is to relate it to fishing. Anyone else have a comment on my analysis? [/QUOTE] I think a better analogy than fishing might be … a pull toy. A kid pulls it around behind him, and it follows him everywhere, but it’s ultimately just a toy. If the kid lets go of the string — stops stringing it along — it stops following. And I think pull toys were probably much more common when the phrase was coined than they are today, so the connection would have been more obvious.