Hi there,I I'm wondering about "to lead someone a merry dance." I've seen it before but the only impression I was left with was someone dancing around (like a buffoon) someone else in order to attract his attention and fool him. By the way, what DOES this phrase refer to literally, and how is the connection made to the figurative sense? And what IS this figurative sense? WR gives: lead someone a merry dance Brit. cause someone a great deal of trouble or worry. a second Web site (http://www.gapfillers.co.uk/?atk=5022) has: to deceive someone and a third (http://slb-ltsu.hull.ac.uk/awe/index.php?title=Lead_(homograph)): to evade capture This latter sense seems to be the one used by Toni Jordan in her novel Fall Girl: "Poor Benito [a pirate] was set upon by the British Navy and he led them a merry dance, right along the southern coast of Australia." Thank you!