garden-path

[gahr-dn-path, -pahth]

adjective

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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for garden-path

Then together and silently they found the garden-path; and followed its dim length.
The Gentleman From Indiana
Booth Tarkington
And he strode up the garden-path, knocked at the door with his cane, and entered.
Johnny Ludlow, Second Series
Mrs. Henry Wood
As they were emerging from the garden-path, they passed a small child.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 93, December 31, 1887
Various
One day he was sitting with his feet across the garden-path.
Zen Buddhism
Arthur Waley
There was some one coming along the garden-path that led up from the river.
Richard Vandermarck
Miriam Coles Harris