IdiomBody & SensesEnglish

throw dust in someone's eyes

Meaning: To mislead someone by distracting them.

Example: “The glossy brochure was meant to throw dust in the buyers' eyes.”

Origin: A real trick in fighting: a handful of dust blinds an opponent for a moment. The figurative phrase is found in English from the 16th century.

Equivalents in other languages

More English idioms

Explore another collection: Proverbs

Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.

Browse all proverbs →

Keep exploring

Explore all idioms →