lead someone up the garden path

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English

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Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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Verb

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lead someone up the garden path (third-person singular simple present leads someone up the garden path, present participle leading someone up the garden path, simple past and past participle led someone up the garden path)

  1. (idiomatic) To deceive, hoodwink, mislead, or seduce someone.
    Synonyms: lead someone down the garden path, lead someone up the garden
    • 1969, Erich Kästner, translated by Cyrus Brooks, Lottie and Lisa, New York, N.Y.: Knopf, →OCLC:
      "You're a pair of conspiring females," he growled. "A fine couple of contriving minxes! You've even led my Peterkin up the garden path."

Derived terms

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Translations

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Further reading

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