lead down the wrong path

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lead down the wrong path" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are discussing someone who is making choices which lead them away from a better option. For example: "The teenager was unaware of the consequences of his actions, and kept being lead down the wrong path by his friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Knowing his character as I do, I can well believe that he wasn't led down the wrong path without quite a lot of persuasion.

The Guardian - Sport

But sometimes the words act and cause actions, as words do, and some readers may be led down the wrong path or may have terrible thoughts planted in their brains.

Stanford University

In the interview, which was obtained by the Guardian, Khan argued the government had wasted resources on "illegal wars" and said more money ought to be spent on young people to help prevent them being led down the "wrong path".

The Guardian

In the interview, which was obtained by the Guardian, he argued the government wasted resources on "illegal wars" and said more money ought to be spent on young people to help prevent them being led down the "wrong path".

The Guardian

In the interview, exclusively obtained by the Guardian, Khan argued the government wasted resources on "illegal wars" and said more money ought to be spent on young people to help prevent them being led down the "wrong path".

The Guardian

In the interview, exclusively obtained by the Guardian, Reyaad Khan, now 20, argued the government wasted resources on "illegal wars" and said more money ought to be spent on young people to help prevent them being led down the "wrong path".

The Guardian

The men — a mix of Muslims and Hindus — protested vigorously and said they feared the women would be "led down the wrong path," as one of them described it, or would spill too much of their personal information in discussion sessions, particularly in regard to domestic violence.

The Washington Post

Participants would try to imagine how the directed actions were intended to embody the problem solution, and would in some cases guess incorrectly and be led down the wrong path as a result.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

On Sawgrass, the site quoted McIlroy as saying: "That's another example of being involved with Chubby [Chandler ]and ISM and maybe being led down the wrong path, or a path that I didn't want to go down.

BBC

Don't be led down the wrong path.

Huffington Post

But I think they've been led down the wrong path.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase, consider who or what is doing the leading, and who is being led.

Common error

Be cautious of implying direct manipulation when describing influence. "Lead down the wrong path" suggests guidance, but the subject still makes their own choices.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lead down the wrong path" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase, typically acting as the predicate of a sentence or clause. It describes the action of influencing someone to make incorrect or undesirable choices, directing them away from a beneficial outcome.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lead down the wrong path" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to describe the act of influencing someone towards an undesirable outcome. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and usability. While no direct example is available in the results, it is shown to be employed across various domains, with related alternatives including "misguide" and "lead astray". This phrase is most aptly used when expressing concern about guidance towards poor choices or harmful situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lead astray

Emphasizes the deviation from a righteous or correct path, similar to the original phrase.

misguide

Focuses on the act of leading someone astray, omitting the specific destination.

steer wrong

Implies a directional error in guidance, suggesting a course correction is needed.

put on the wrong track

Highlights the initiation of an incorrect course, often in problem-solving or investigation.

send down the garden path

Features a more elaborate and potentially deceptive route to misunderstanding.

derail

Suggests a sudden and forceful departure from the intended or correct path.

corrupt

Implies moral decay or inducement into unethical practices as a result of influence.

influence negatively

Focuses on the adverse impact of influence, regardless of direction or intention.

misinform

Highlights the act of providing incorrect information which may cause a deviation.

deceive

Emphasizes the intentional misleading of someone, often for personal gain.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "lead down the wrong path"?

Consider using alternatives like "misguide", "lead astray", or "steer wrong" to convey a similar meaning.

What does it mean to "lead someone down the wrong path"?

It means to influence someone to make poor choices or to pursue a course of action that will have negative consequences for them.

Is it always intentional when someone "leads you down the wrong path"?

No, sometimes people unintentionally "misguide" others due to their own lack of knowledge or poor judgment. The phrase doesn't necessarily imply malicious intent.

What are some situations where someone might be "led down the wrong path"?

This could occur in various contexts, such as making poor financial decisions based on bad advice, getting involved in harmful activities due to peer pressure, or pursuing a career that doesn't align with one's skills and interests because of external influences.