
IdiomBody & Senses
English
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
Russian: пускать пыль в глаза (puskat' pyl' v glaza) Literally: Throw dust in eyes
More English idioms
- when pigs fly Never.
- mark my words Remember what I am telling you; it will turn out to be true.
- lead someone up the garden path To deceive someone, keeping them hopeful along the way.
- packed like sardines Crowded very tightly together.
- give someone the runaround To put someone off with excuses instead of a straight answer.
- pin the blame on someone To make someone take responsibility for a fault, often unfairly.
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