garden
- a plot of ground, usually near a house, where flowers, shrubs, vegetables, fruits, or herbs are cultivated.
- a piece of ground or other space, commonly with ornamental plants, trees, etc., used as a park or other public recreation area: a public garden.
- a fertile and delightful spot or region.
- British. yard2(def 1).
- pertaining to, produced in, or suitable for cultivation or use in a garden: fresh garden vegetables; garden furniture.
- garden-variety.
- to lay out, cultivate, or tend a garden.
- to cultivate as a garden.
- lead up/down the garden path, to deceive or mislead in an enticing way; lead on; delude: The voters had been led up the garden path too often to take a candidate's promises seriously.
Origin of garden
garden
- British
- an area of land, usually planted with grass, trees, flowerbeds, etc, adjoining a houseUS and Canadian word: yard
- (as modifier)a garden chair
- an area of land used for the cultivation of ornamental plants, herbs, fruit, vegetables, trees, etc
- (as modifier)garden tools Related adjective: horticultural
- (often plural) such an area of land that is open to the public, sometimes part of a parkbotanical gardens
- a fertile and beautiful region
- (as modifier)a garden paradise
- (modifier) provided with or surrounded by a garden or gardensa garden flat
- lead a person up the garden path informal to mislead or deceive a person
- common or garden informal ordinary; unexceptional
- to work in, cultivate, or take care of (a garden, plot of land, etc)
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for lead down the garden path
garden
n.
c.1300, from Old North French gardin (13c., Modern French jardin), from Vulgar Latin hortus gardinus "enclosed garden," via Frankish *gardo, from Proto-Germanic *gardaz- (cf. Old Frisian garda, Old Saxon gardo, Old High German garto, German Garten "garden," Old English geard "enclosure," see yard (n.1)). Italian giardino, Spanish jardin are from French.
Garden-party is by 1843. Garden variety in figurative sense first recorded 1928. To lead someone up the garden path "entice, deceive" is attested by 1925.
garden
Idioms and Phrases with lead down the garden path
lead down the garden path
Also, lead up the garden path. Deceive someone. For example, Bill had quite different ideas from Tom about their new investment strategy; he was leading him down the garden path. This expression presumably alludes to the garden path as an intentional detour. [Early 1900s] Also see lead on.
garden
In addition to the idiom beginning with garden
- garden variety
also see:
- lead down the garden path