Lead By The Nose (Verb)
Meaning
Conceal one's true motives from especially by elaborately feigning good intentions so as to gain an end; "He bamboozled his professors into thinking that he knew the subject well".
Classification
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.
Examples
- The salesman led the couple by the nose, convincing them to buy an expensive model that they didn't really need.
- The politician led the voters by the nose, pretending to support their causes while actually working for special interests.
- The actor led her co-stars by the nose, making them believe she was a method actor when in reality she was just pretending to be deep.
- The con artist led the investor by the nose, claiming he had a foolproof business plan when in reality it was just a scam.
- The smooth-talking guest led the hotel staff by the nose, getting them to upgrade his room and provide extra amenities for free.