garden

common-or-garden (British)

very ordinary. I just want a common-or-garden bike - it doesn't have to have special wheels or lots of gears or anything like that. (always before noun)

Everything in the garden is rosy.

something that you say which means that there are no problems in a situation. But not everything in the garden is rosy. Sales may look good but they're actually 10% down on last year. (often negative)

See also: everything, rosy

garden-variety (American & Australian)

very ordinary. It's just a garden-variety shopping mall, large but not special in any way. (always before noun)

lead someone up the garden path (British, American & Australian, informal, American, informal)

to deceive someone. We were led up the garden path about the cost of the building work - it turned out really expensive.

See also: lead, path

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lead someone down the garden path

to deceive someone. Our country has been led down the garden path by the politicians in office.

Etymology: based on the idea that a path in a garden is very pleasant, so someone who is brought along it can be deceived without noticing it

See also: down, lead, path