Hoodwinked

To hoodwink someone means to deceive or trick them, often through a clever or misleading act. It implies a degree of cunning on the part of the deceiver and a vulnerability or naivete on the part of the person being deceived. The deception might involve false promises, hidden information, or manipulative tactics. The aim of the hoodwinking is typically to gain some advantage, whether it's financial, social, or personal. The term emphasizes the element of being fooled or misled, suggesting that the victim was unaware of the true situation or intentions. The deception is often subtle, designed to bypass critical thinking and exploit trust or greed. It often involves misleading someone into believing something that is not true. The hoodwinking usually comes as a complete surprise to the individual being misled and is often noticed far later. This action can sometimes cause great amounts of sadness, frustration, and anger in its victims.

Hoodwinked meaning with examples

• The slick salesman hoodwinked the elderly couple into buying a worthless timeshare, preying on their desire for a luxurious vacation and making grand promises that were never delivered, leaving them heartbroken and financially strained when the scheme was later exposed.
• After falling for the online scam, Sarah realized she had been hoodwinked when she wired a large sum of money to a fake investment opportunity and received nothing in return, and she felt embarrassed and foolish.
• The politician successfully hoodwinked the public with empty campaign promises, distracting them from the real issues and securing votes through carefully crafted speeches, only to betray them after being elected and failing to deliver what they promised.
• The con artist hoodwinked his wealthy clients, spinning elaborate tales of financial success and securing investments, concealing the fact that the funds were being used for personal gain and lavish lifestyle, before disappearing into the shadows.
• During the magic show, the magician expertly hoodwinked the audience with sleight of hand and misdirection, making them believe he had made the rabbit disappear, leaving the audience both amazed and entertained by the illusion and trickery.