Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To lead (somebody) by the nose: To deceive, manipulate, or control someone completely, making them believe or do whatever you want, often without them realizing they are being controlled.

Usage

• This phrase is used to describe a situation where one person has complete control over another's thoughts or actions, typically through deception or clever manipulation. The person being controlled is unaware or gullible.
• It often carries a negative connotation, implying the person being led is foolish or easily tricked.
• Structure: Subject + dắt mũi + Object (the person being manipulated).

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Anh ta bị đối tác dắt mũi trong suốt vụ làm ăn đó. (He was led by the nose by his partner throughout that business deal.)
  • Đừng để những lời đường mật dắt mũi bạn. (Don't let sweet talk lead you by the nose.)
  • Tên lừa đảo đã dắt mũi hàng chục người bằng những lời hứa hão. (The scammer led dozens of people by the nose with empty promises.)

Advanced Usage

• "Bị dắt mũi": To be led by the nose (passive voice, emphasizing the state of being deceived).
  • Cô ấy nhận ra mình đã bị dắt mũi trong nhiều năm. (She realized she had been led by the nose for many years.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lừa dối / Lừa gạt (verb): To cheat, to swindle. (Focuses more on the act of cheating rather than the ongoing control.)
• Thao túng (verb): To manipulate. (A more general term for manipulation, can be used in psychological, political, or financial contexts.)
• Bịp bợm (adjective): Deceitful, fraudulent. (Describes a deceptive nature.)

Synonyms

• Lừa phỉnh: To dupe, to hoodwink.
• Đánh lừa: To trick, to fool.

Related Idioms

• "Vẽ đường cho hươu chạy": Literally "to draw a path for the deer to run"; to lead someone on, to encourage someone (often into a mistake or trap). This shares the concept of guiding someone toward a desired (often negative) outcome.
• "Bị bịt mắt bắt dê": Literally "to be blindfolded and catch goats"; to be kept in the dark, to be manipulated without seeing the full picture. This emphasizes the lack of awareness of the person being controlled.

1. Lead (somebody) by the nose