lead someone up the garden path

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lead someone up the garden path

/ˈliːd ˌsʌmwʌn ˈʌp ðə ˈɡɑːdn̩ pɑːθ/ UK
/ˈlid ˌsʌmwʌn ˈʌp ðə ˈɡɑɹdən ˌpæθ/ US

Where it comes from

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

verb leads someone up the garden path · leading someone up the garden path · led someone up the garden path

idiomatic To 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."
Similar: lead someone down the garden path, lead someone up the garden

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MLA

"lead someone up the garden path." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/lead%20someone%20up%20the%20garden%20path. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

lead someone up the garden path. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/lead%20someone%20up%20the%20garden%20path

Chicago

"lead someone up the garden path." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/lead%20someone%20up%20the%20garden%20path.

BibTeX

@misc{lead_someone_up_the_garden_path_2026,
  title = {lead someone up the garden path},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/lead%20someone%20up%20the%20garden%20path},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}