pull the wool over someone's eyes

Register · Informal Informal — used in casual, everyday conversation among friends and family. Avoid in formal writing or professional settings. CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

to deceive someone

Why this phrase?

Wool — hair, in older English — is pictured being drawn over the eyes to blind a victim to the truth.

Example

“He pulled the wool over her eyes for years before she found out.”

Dictionary details

Component words

wool eye

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

catch someone's eye Neutral · CEFR B1

to draw someone's notice or interest

give someone the eye Informal · CEFR B2

to signal romantic or sexual attraction through deliberate glances

have an eye for Neutral · CEFR B2

be naturally skilled at noticing or judging a particular quality

the apple of one's eye Neutral · CEFR B2

a person or thing that someone loves and treasures above all others

let the cat out of the bag Informal · CEFR B1

To reveal a secret, usually by mistake.

pull someone's leg Informal · CEFR B1

To tease or joke with someone by telling them something untrue in fun.

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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