ENGLISH
REFERENCE

lead someone up the garden path

idiom
Meaning

To deceive, hoodwink, mislead, or seduce someone.


Origin

disputed origin

Probably a reference to the fact that a garden path is often winding instead of direct.

Examples
SIMPLE

He led me up the garden path about the car's condition.

CONTEXTUAL

The salesman led the customer up the garden path by promising features that the basic model did not actually include.

COMPLEX

She realized too late that her business partner had led her up the garden path, leaving her with all the debt and none of the profits.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all roads lead to Rome

    Different paths can take one to the same goal.

  2. 02

    as if someone owns the place

    Alternative form of like someone owns the place.

  3. 03

    beat someone round the ears

    To beat (a person) with blows about the head.

  4. 04

    bless someone with

    To give or bestow, as a gift from God.

  5. 05

    bring someone to their knees

    To defeat and make submit to orders.

  6. 06

    call someone every name in the book

    To call someone many abusive names.

  7. 07

    call someone everything but a child of God

    To call someone many abusive names.

  8. 08

    catch someone napping

    To take advantage of someone's inattention.

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