Phrase guide

lead someone up the garden path

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈliːd ˌsʌmwʌn ˈʌp ðə ˈɡɑːdn̩ pɑːθ/
  • General-American: /ˈlid ˌsʌmwʌn ˈʌp ðə ˈɡɑɹdən ˌpæθ/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To deceive, hoodwink, mislead, or seduce someone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

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

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

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