lead on

lead on (third-person singular simple present leads on, present participle leading on, simple past and past participle led on)

1. (transitive, idiomatic) To mislead, to try to make someone believe a lie.
   • 1860 December – 1861 August, Charles Dickens, chapter V, in Great Expectations […], volume III, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published October 1861, →OCLC, page 73:

     "But when I fell into the mistake I have so long remained in, at least you led me on?" said I. / "Yes," she returned, again nodding steadily, "I let you go on."

   1. (in particular) To encourage with the illusion of a romantic relationship.

      I thought she really loved me but really she was just leading me on.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lead,‎ on.

• Delano, deanol, enodal, loaden, loaned, onlead