Phrase guide

pull the wool over someone's eyes

verb · 2 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

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To deceive someone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

conceal one's true motives from especially by elaborately feigning good intentions so as to gain an end

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He bamboozled his professors into thinking that he knew the subject well

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bamboozle, snow, hoodwink, lead by the nose, play false

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: deceive, betray, lead astray

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: rouler dans la farine — to deceive someone
  • German: hinters Licht führen — to deceive someone
  • Hungarian: megtéveszt — to deceive someone
  • Hungarian: félrevezet — to deceive someone
  • Hungarian: becsap — to deceive someone
  • Hungarian: bepaliz — to deceive someone
  • Hungarian: behúz a csőbe — to deceive someone
  • Hungarian: átver — to deceive someone
  • Hungarian: rászed — to deceive someone
  • Italian: gettare fumo negli occhi — to deceive someone
  • Polish: mydlić oczy — to deceive someone
  • Portuguese: enganar — to deceive someone
  • Portuguese: enrolar — to deceive someone
  • Portuguese: embromar — to deceive someone
  • Russian: втирать очки́ (vtiratʹ očkí) — to deceive someone
  • Spanish: dársela con queso — to deceive someone