lead someone up the garden path

lead some·one up the gar·den path
UK/ˈliːd ˌsʌmwʌn ˈʌp ðə ˈɡɑːdn̩ pɑːθ/US/ˈlid ˌsʌmwʌn ˈʌp ðə ˈɡɑɹdən ˌpæθ/

verb

To deceive, hoodwink, mislead, or seduce someone.

Similar
lead someone down the garden pathlead someone up the garden
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Meanings

verblead 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)

present singular third person leads someone up the garden path · participle present leading someone up the garden path · participle past led someone up the garden path · past led someone up the garden path

  1. idiomaticTo deceive, hoodwink, mislead, or seduce someone.

    "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."

    1969, Erich Kästner, translated by Cyrus Brooks, Lottie and Lisa, New York, N.Y.: Knopf, →OCLC

    Synonyms: lead someone down the garden path, lead someone up the garden

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo deceive, hoodwink, mislead, or seduce someone.

Similar
lead someone down the garden pathlead someone up the garden
Also see
lead someone down the garden pathtake someone down the garden path

Origin

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

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

lead someone up the garden path. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lead%20someone%20up%20the%20garden%20path

MLA

“lead someone up the garden path.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lead%20someone%20up%20the%20garden%20path. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lead someone up the garden path,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lead%20someone%20up%20the%20garden%20path.

Source: lead someone up the garden path on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.