garden-path

American  

[gahr-dn-path, -pahth] / ˈgɑr dnˌpæθ, -ˌpɑθ /

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to a sentence that is easily parsed incorrectly because its beginning suggests it has an interpretation that it clearly does not have.

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Example Sentences

His eyes were full of tears as he walked down the garden-path carrying his little girl and holding the daisy she had given him in his hand.

From An Old Story of My Farming Days Vol. I (of III). (Ut Mine Stromtid) by Reuter, Fritz

In the evening, when the milk had been cared for, Habermann walked with his sister along the garden-path, and she spoke of his, and he of her, troubles.

From Seed-time and Harvest A Novel by Reuter, Fritz

While I stood there some one advanced along the garden-path, looked up, saw me and beckoned.

From Lippincott's Magazine, December 1878 by Various

There were two or three pairs of eyes watching—no, not watching, but seeing—the two girls from the doorstep, and Shenac Dhu drew her cousin down the garden-path towards the plum-tree before she answered her.

From Shenac's Work at Home by Robertson, Margaret M. (Margaret Murray)

He led her up the dark garden-path and into the glitter of lights in the ante-hall of the Lusthaus, where Madame de Stafforth stood ready to depart, waiting for Wilhelmine.

From A German Pompadour Being the Extraordinary History of Wilhelmine van Grävenitz, Landhofmeisterin of Wirtemberg by Hay, Marie, Hon. (Agnes Blanche Marie)