PhrasesHub

Pull the wool over someone's eyes

    Definitions

      • deceive or trick someone
        To intentionally mislead or manipulate someone, often for one's own gain or to conceal the truth

      • distract or divert someone's attention
        To divert someone's attention from something important or to keep them occupied with something unimportant

    Examples of Pull the wool over someone's eyes

    • The salesman tried to pull the wool over my eyes by claiming that the car had never been in an accident, but I could see the damage for myself.

      This idiom means to deceive or trick someone into believing something that is not true. It comes from the idea that sheep are easily fooled by being led with a ball of wool over their eyes, making it difficult for them to see where they are going. In the example, the salesman is trying to make the buyer believe that the car has not been in an accident, but the buyer can see that this is not true.2. Let the cat out of the bag

    • My sister accidentally let the cat out of the bag by telling my parents that I had gotten a job before I had a chance to tell them myself.

      This idiom means to reveal a secret that was supposed to be kept hidden. It comes from the image of a cat hiding in a bag and then suddenly escaping, causing the secret inside the bag to be revealed. In the example, the sister accidentally revealed the secret of the brother's new job before he had a chance to tell his parents himself.3. Spill the beans

    • My friend spilled the beans about the surprise party by accidentally mentioning it to me in front of my other friend.

      This idiom means to accidentally reveal a secret. It comes from the image of spilling a container of beans, causing the contents to be revealed. In the example, the friend accidentally revealed the secret of the surprise party to the other friend, causing the surprise to be ruined.4. Piece of cake

    • The math test was a piece of cake compared to the one we took last semester.

      This idiom means that something is very easy to do. It comes from the image of a cake being easy to cut into pieces. In the example, the speaker is saying that the math test was much easier than a previous one.5. Break a leg

    • I wish you break a leg in your performance tonight!

      This idiom is used to wish someone good luck, but it comes from an old superstition that saying "break a leg" to an actor would actually cause them to break their leg. The idiom is still used today as a humorous way to wish someone good luck. In the example, the speaker is wishing the person good luck in their performance, using the humorous idiom.


    Conclusion

    This idiom is often used in a negative context to describe someone being fooled or misled. It can also be used in a more light-hearted manner to describe someone being distracted or entertained.

    Origin of "Pull the wool over someone's eyes"

    The phrase "pull the wool over someone's eyes" originated in the 17th century, when wool was a commonly used material to make clothing. In those times, it was easy to deceive someone by pulling a woolen cloth over their eyes and blinding them. This phrase was first used in the literary work "The History of the Damnable Life and Deserved Death of Doctor John Faustus" by English playwright Christopher Marlowe.

    Over time, the phrase evolved to mean intentionally deceiving someone or hiding the truth from them. It is often used in reference to someone being fooled by a clever disguise or a well-crafted lie. The idiom gained popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries and is still commonly used today.

    In conclusion, "pull the wool over someone's eyes" is a vivid and descriptive idiom that originated from a literal action of covering someone's eyes with wool. It has now evolved to signify deceit and trickery, making it a popular phrase in both casual and formal contexts.