A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

lay-by (UK) • lay-by (U.S.)
lay-by (UK)—
1
. a roadside parking or rest area for drivers:
The holidaymakers had stopped in a lay-by at Oban and Miss
Coldrick thinks she left the camera on the car boot. 2. an
agreement to purchase goods by paying for them by install-
ments: When making a lay-by you should receive from the
trader a copy of the written contract.
lay-by (U.S.)—the final operation in the growing of a field
crop leaving it to mature without further cultivation: The
amount of potassium required may be split between the plant-
ing and lay-by application.
lead a cat and dog life • lead a dog’s life
lead a cat and dog life —(of two people) engage in constant
quarreling (also: live a cat and dog life): They have led a cat-
and-dog life almost since the day they were married.
lead a dog’s life —(also: live a dog’s life) lead a wretched
unpleasant existence: Poor woman! She’s led a dog’s life since
she married that man.
lead someone a dance • lead the dance
lead someone a dance —cause a person much exertion or trou-
ble with no adequate result: The prettiest of all the girls was
the schoolie, and didn’t she lead the lads a dance.
lead the dance —take the lead in a course of action: There
is still a very subtle struggle for control. Who will lead the
dance and who will follow?
lead someone in a string • string someone along
lead someone in a string —have complete control over another
person: It is a sad condition for one who ruled womankind as
he, that a woman should lead him in a string.
string someone along —(coll.) deliberately mislead a person
into believing or doing smth.: He’ll never marry her, he’s just
stringing her along!
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase string along with someone—(coll.)
1
. accompany a per-
son (especially one with more experience): Sally seemed to know
where she was going, so I decided to string along with her. 2.
maintain a relationship even if without much enthusiasm: She
had been much younger than the crowd which had grown up
with Minnie, but she had strung along with them.