What does 'to pull the wool over someone's eyes' mean?
51,320 views ・ 2019-03-18
Please double-click on the English subtitles below to play the video.
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Feifei: Hello and welcome to The English We Speak
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with me, Feifei…
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Neil: And hello, I'm Neil.
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And I have to say, Feifei, that's a very cool,
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but warm, woolly hat you're wearing.
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Feifei: Oh thanks, Neil.
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It's unusual to get a compliment from you!
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Neil: You're welcome.
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But why are you wearing it in the studio?
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Feifei: Well, it's so cold outside.
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I had to wear something to keep my head warm.
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I suppose I should take it off now?
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Neil: Actually, no.
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Can you pull it down a bit
more, so it covers your eyes?
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Feifei: Well, if you say so.
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There. How do I look?
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Neil: Beautiful!
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And it demonstrates the English phrase perfectly
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– to pull the wool over your eyes.
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Feifei: Another strange English phrase!
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Neil, does it mean 'not being able to see'
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or maybe, 'to have a very warm head'?
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Neil: No. 'To pull the wool over somebody's eyes'
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means 'to trick or deceive someone
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so it stops them discovering something'.
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Feifei: Right. But you don't actually have to wear
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a woolly hat to do this.
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Neil: You don't. But for now, keep the hat where
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it is while we hear some examples…
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Examples: You can't pull the wool over my eyes!
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I know you've been smoking.
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I can smell it!
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He tried to pull the wool over the eyes of
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the shareholders and not tell them the company
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was bankrupt.
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But they soon found out.
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You can't pull the wool over her eyes.
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She's too smart.
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She'll find out you've been
dating her best friend.
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Feifei: You're listening to
The English We Speak from
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BBC Learning English
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and we're finding out about the expression
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'to pull the wool over someone's eyes',
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which means 'to trick or deceive someone
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to stop them discovering something'.
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So it's really about hiding
something from someone?
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Neil: Exactly!
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Feifei: So are you pulling the wool over my eyes?
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Neil?
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Are you there?
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Neil: Ha ha! She'll never
know I've taken the biscuits
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from her handbag.
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OK, Feifei, you can remove your hat now.
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Sorry, it was just funny looking at you like that!
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Feifei: Pulling the wool over my eyes is no joke!
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I know you stole my biscuits.
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You'll pay for this.
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Neil: Oh no! Time to go!
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Bye.
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Feifei: Neil, come back!
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