Choose the correct meaning of the given idiom/phrase from the options:
"Pull the wool over someone's eyes"
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct Answer
To deceive someone
Explanation
The question asks for the correct figurative meaning of the common idiom "Pull the wool over someone's eyes." Idioms use metaphorical imagery rather than literal descriptions to convey a message.
This phrase dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries when men commonly wore large, styled woolen wigs. If a clever thief or prankster physically pulled a person's woolen wig down over their eyes, the victim would be temporarily blinded and unable to see what was actually happening around them.
In a modern conversation, when you pull the wool over someone's eyes, you are blinding them metaphorically by withholding the truth, lying to them, or tricking them so they cannot see your true motives. Therefore, it means to deceive someone.
Let's look at why the other options are incorrect:
"To keep someone warm" is a literal trap based on the physical properties of wool fabric.
"To make a mistake" implies an accidental error, whereas pulling wool over someone's eyes requires deliberate trickery.
"To give advice" is a helpful, positive action, which contradicts the sneaky connotation of the phrase.
Because the idiom centers on hiding the truth to trick a person, Option 2 is the correct choice.
Key Points
On English exams, idioms that involve blocking, tricking, or confusing someone's sense of sight (such as pulling wool over eyes or throwing dust in someone's eyes) almost universally translate to the act of deception.
A quick way to filter out wrong options on vocabulary papers is to eliminate choices that explain the literal objects in the prompt (like "warmth" for "wool").