gardenpath
verbUK /ˈɡɑː.dən.pɑːθ/
US /ˈɡɑːr.dən.pæθ/
To trick someone into believing something that is not true.
The tricky sentence tried to gardenpath readers into the wrong meaning.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A path in a garden.
We walked along the gardenpath between the flowers.
3. To lead someone along a pleasant but false route.
The con man gardenpathed the tourists with friendly talk.
4. A sentence that leads readers to expect one meaning but gives another.
The old man the boat is a famous gardenpath sentence.