Deception, a pervasive aspect of human interaction, ranges from benign trickery to malicious deceit. This blog post explores 20 idioms that vividly describe various forms of deception, providing a linguistic toolkit for understanding and discussing duplicity in everyday life.
1. Pull the wool over someone’s eyes
Meaning: Deceive thoroughly
Example: He pulled the wool over her eyes about the costs.
2. Lead someone up the garden path
Meaning: Mislead someone
Example: She led him up the garden path with fake promises.
3. Play possum
Meaning: Pretend innocence
Example: He played possum when questioned.
4. A wolf in sheep’s clothing
Meaning: A hidden threat
Example: He’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
5. Smoke and mirrors
Meaning: Deceptive tactics
Example: Their proposal was all smoke and mirrors.
6. Pull a fast one
Meaning: Trick cleverly
Example: She pulled a fast one to win.
7. Bait and switch
Meaning: Deceptive strategy
Example: It was a bait and switch sale.
8. A red herring
Meaning: Misleading clue
Example: He used a red herring in his story.
9. Throw dust in someone’s eyes
Meaning: Confuse, mislead
Example: He threw dust in our eyes during the debate.
10. Sell a pup
Meaning: Swindle or cheat
Example: She sold him a pup with that car.
11. Take someone for a ride
Meaning: Deceive or cheat
Example: He took her for a ride financially.
12. Hoodwink
Meaning: Deceive thoroughly
Example: He hoodwinked us all with his charm.
13. Pull the rug out from under
Meaning: Unexpectedly deceive
Example: They pulled the rug out from under him.
14. Have a card up one’s sleeve
Meaning: Hidden advantage
Example: He always has a card up his sleeve.
15. A Trojan horse
Meaning: Subtle deceit
Example: Their gift was a Trojan horse.
16. Cry wolf
Meaning: False alarm
Example: He cried wolf too often.
17. Spin a yarn
Meaning: Tell a lie
Example: She can spin a yarn about her past.
18. A snake in the grass
Meaning: Hidden enemy
Example: Beware, he’s a snake in the grass.
19. Play the fool
Meaning: Pretend ignorance
Example: She plays the fool to get what she wants.
20. The emperor’s new clothes
Meaning: Obvious lie
Example: It’s like the emperor’s new clothes at work.
