pull and slacken

[rollingstone]

Is there any word or phrase to describe the action of pulling and then slackening as done in angling or flying a kite.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

You just said it.

 

[Raymott]

Tense and slacken are antonyms that you could use.

 

[tedmc]

When flying a kite, you pull and release the string.

 

[bhaisahab]

If you release the string, you will lose the kite, ted.

 

[tedmc]

If you release the string, you will lose the kite, ted.

By "release", I mean to release part of the string so that the kite can go higher, lifted by the wind.

http://www.wikihow.com/Fly-a-Kite
See Part 2 Step 6

 

[emsr2d2]

To make a kite go higher, I would "let out" some string. To bring the kite lower, I would "reel in" some string.

 

[bhaisahab]

You can also "pay out" some string.

 

[tedmc]

What about "release part of the string"?

 

[bhaisahab]

That's not natural.

 

[emsr2d2]

What about "release part of the string"?

The problem with using "release" is that it suggests completely letting go of the string.

 

[Tarheel]

This reminds me of a story. A long time ago, we saw this this guy flying a kite in a park. I'm not sure how it happened, but he gave me the string to hold and then took off. So I wound up standing there holding the string and trying to decide what to do. (I honestly don't remember if I let the kite go or pulled it in. I do know that it was really high.)

 

[Skrej]

You can also "pay out" some string.

Also 'play out' some string/line.

 

[bhaisahab]

I've not come across "play out" before, only "pay out".

 

[Rover_KE]

Regarding that Ngram, Piscean, I've only just become aware that adding _INF widens the search to include other inflections of the verb.

Are there any other helpful tips for getting the best out of Ngrams?

 

[rollingstone]

"reel in and let out" sounds ok.