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3. lead down the garden path

lead down the garden path

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lead someone down the garden path

 and lead someone up the garden path

to deceive someone. Now, be honest with me. Don't lead me down the garden path. That cheater really led her up the garden path.

See also: down, garden, lead, path

lead somebody down the garden path

also lead somebody up the garden path

to deceive someone Our country has been led down the garden path by the politicians in office.

Etymology: based on the idea that a path in a garden is very pleasant, so someone who is brought along it can be deceived without noticing it

See also: down, garden, lead, path

lead down the garden path

Also, lead up the garden path. Deceive someone. For example, Bill had quite different ideas from Tom about their new investment strategy; he was leading him down the garden path . This expression presumably alludes to the garden path as an intentional detour. [Early 1900s] Also see lead on.

See also: down, garden, lead, path