lead on
verb1
Idiomatic To mislead, to try to make someone believe a lie.
- "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."1860 December – 1861 August, Charles Dickens, chapter V, in Great Expectations […], volume III, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published October 1861, →OCLC, page 73:
2
Idiomatic, 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.
3
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lead, on.