pʊl ðə wʊl ˈoʊvər ˈsʌmwʌnz aɪz
General
informal
intermediate
- Literally:
- Covering someone's eyes with wool
What does "pull the wool over someone's eyes" mean?
- To deceive or trick someone
- To hide the truth from someone
Examples
- Don't let them pull the wool over your eyes.
- The company tried to pull the wool over investors' eyes.
- You can't pull the wool over my eyes—I know what's happening.
Origin
From the 19th century when wool wigs were fashionable. Pulling the wig over someone's eyes would blind them temporarily.
How to use it
Implies deliberate deception. Often used in warnings or accusations.
Similar expressions
deceive
mislead
trick
fool
con
Opposites
be honest
tell the truth
be transparent
Related idioms
- actions speak louder than words
What people do is more important than what they say
- better safe than sorry
It's better to be careful and prevent problems than to take risks
- so far so good
Things have gone well up to now
- easier said than done
Something is more difficult to do than to talk about
- make a long story short
To summarize or get to the point
- to make matters worse
In addition to existing problems
Use it in a practice answer
Try "pull the wool over someone's eyes" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.