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

See Examples For:

garden-path

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

Just across the garden-path was a fine bed of feathery asparagus, separated from the rest of the garden by a low wooden border about two inches high.

From In Story-land by Harrison, Elizabeth

Wilhelmine walked away down the garden-path, desiring apparently to commune with herself.

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

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)

“A sensible-like lassie, that,” said the master to himself, looking at her with some such curiosity as he would have looked at a strange beetle in his garden-path, “that is wise like.”

From The Orphans of Glen Elder by Robertson, Margaret M. (Margaret Murray)