Водить за нос (Vodit' za nos)

Meaning: To deceive or string someone along.

Language: Russian

Literally: To lead by the nose

Category: Animals

Origin: From fairground bears led helplessly by a ring through the nose, doing whatever their handler wished.

More idioms — Animals

• Nem que a vaca tussa — No way; under no circumstances.
• 亡羊补牢 (Wáng yáng bǔ láo) — It's not too late to act after a setback to prevent further loss.
• Passer du coq à l'âne — To switch topics abruptly and illogically.
• To bury your head in the sand — To refuse to face an obvious danger.
• Die Kuh vom Eis holen — To resolve a precarious situation.
• Eulen nach Athen tragen — To do something utterly pointless.

More Russian idioms

• Бить баклуши (Bit' baklushi) — To loaf about doing nothing.
• Остаться с носом (Ostat'sya s nosom) — To be left empty-handed or outwitted.
• Как сельдь в бочке (Kak sel'd' v bochke) — Packed together very tightly.
• Делать ноги (Delat' nogi) — To run away quickly.
• Заговаривать зубы (Zagovarivat' zuby) — To distract someone with smooth, evasive talk.
• Вешать всех собак (Veshat' vsekh sobak) — To blame someone for everything.

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