lead somebody up the garden path

lead (one) up the garden path

To mislead or deceive one. Don't lead me up the garden path—tell me what is really going on here.See also: garden, lead, path, up

lead somebody up the garden ˈpath

(informal) cause somebody to believe something that is not true; deceive somebody: I think you’re just leading us up the garden path — now, come on, tell us the truth! ♢ He had led her up the garden path, telling her he wasn’t married.See also: garden, lead, path, somebody, up