Lead (one) up the garden path British phrase
To make someone think that something untrue or wrong is true.
Don't believe John- he is just leading you up the garden path. He's a real con artist.
Mary tried to lead me up the garden path, talking me into buying a useless product. Luckily, I was wise not to believe what she said.
Having led many customers up the garden path, this unscrupulous retailer disappeared.
To maintain someone's attention or to keep them waiting in a state of uncertainty.
Very dishonest and deceptive
To deliberately hide one's true nature, intentions or purposes
Used to refer to any swindle
The verb "lead" must be conjugated according to its tense.
This phrase dates back to the early twentieth century and alludes to a romantic or seductive enticement. Often found in popular novels of the 1930s and 1940s, it is less frequently heard today.
Confusion made worse than before.
There was heavy traffic on the way to work this morning. Confusion worse confounded when some drivers were arguing with each other right in the middle of the street.