pull the football

Definitions

To appear to make someone a promising offer, only to withdraw it to the detriment of the other party.

US, colloquial

Examples

“[see⟳ title]”

“Instead, they took the deportation and pulled the football away on doing anything to keep⟳ immigrants in this nation.”

“But in several instances, in several places, I think⟳ we kind of pulled the football away, to use⟳ an analogy, from groups such as Southeast Asians in Queens”

““If you keep⟳ on pulling the football from when I’m kicking, eventually you’re going to get⟳ a little wary,” McCormick told CNN of his hesitation to get⟳ in line again.”

CEFR level