pull the wool over someone's eyes
/ˌpʊl ðə ˈwʊl ˌəʊvə ˌsʌmwʌnz ˈaɪz/INFORMAL · C1
Meaning
to trick someone so they do not notice the truth
Examples
- 1Don't try to pull the wool over my eyes; I know you haven't done your homework.
- 2The fake builder pulled the wool over her eyes and took most of her savings.
- 3The seller pulled the wool over our eyes; the car broke down a week later.
- 4You can't pull the wool over her eyes; she's been a detective for thirty years.
- 5Did the travel agent pull the wool over your eyes, or was the hotel really that nice?
Grammar
Only pull changes: pulls, pulling, pulled. someone's is one word such as my, our or her.
More idioms about honesty and secrets
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →take something with a pinch of saltto not fully believe what you are toldtell it like it isto describe a situation honestly, even the unpleasant partseconomical with the truthnot telling all the facts, or not being honestspill the beansto tell people information that was meant to stay privatecome cleanto finally admit the truth about something you kept hiddenkeep something under your hatto not tell anyone else about something
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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