Phrase-Meaning – Difference Between ‘Give Full Scope to’ and ‘Give Full Play to’

from my perspective (American dialect):

To "get going" means to take concrete actions to prepare to leave. It can also mean "to hurry up." So, for instance, if I have a lot to do today, and I am dawdling over my breakfast and drinking my second cup of coffee, someone might say "you should get going!" But they probably wouldn't say "you should go!"

So "I should get going" is something I'm more likely to use when I'm implying that I have somewhere to go and stuff to do. "I should go" I'm more likely to use when I should leave. (For instance: we are at your house, we just had an unpleasant conversation, and I feel unwelcome: "I should go." I am at your house for a dinner party and it's time for me to go to bed "I should get going.")

Summary: "I should get going" implies I "should" because I have somewhere else to be, whereas "I should go" implies I "should" because it's important that I not be here. This is subtle but becomes more strong when we change "I" to "you."

As far as "I should be going," it's something I hear in movies but I don't personally say; maybe it is more British, or maybe it is just old-fashioned.

1. I've never seen the expression without attached. But it's certainly intelligible, and I sort of like it: it lets you say strings with considerably more emphasis and foreboding.

   She's taken the job and she's happy; but I'm afraid there will be (ominous whisper) strings.

2. The expression is basically metaphorical; the image evoked is that of a marionette manipulated by some agent for his own purposes. I would suggest that you not use it of control exerted by an entity such as an idea to which you cannot attribute agency.

   In any case, the strings are "attached" only to the gift or favor bestowed, and thus indirectly to the recipient; the manipulator is not attached to the gift but employs it as an instrument.

3. I'm not quite clear on what you're asking here, but certainly the observation that strings are attached can be made by anybody, not just the parties involved.