Verb: lead by the nose
- Deceive or trick someone, especially through deliberate misrepresentation
- bamboozle [informal], snow [N. Amer, informal], hoodwink, pull the wool over someone's eyes [informal], play false
- Control or dominate someone completely; make someone do whatever one wants
"The manipulative manager led his staff by the nose"
Derived forms: leading by the nose, leads by the nose, led by the nose
Type of: betray, deceive, lead astray