path (redirected from paths)

be off the beaten track (British, American & Australian, American)

if a place is off the beaten track, not many people go there. Unfortunately, because the gallery's a bit off the beaten track, it doesn't get many visitors.

See also: beaten, track

beat a path to someone's door

to be very eager to speak to someone and do business with them. Put that ad in the paper and you'll have half the town beating a path to your door.

See also: beat, door

cross someone's path

to meet someone, especially by accident. If he ever crosses my path again, I'll kill him.

See also: cross

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: garden, lead

someone's paths cross

if two people's paths cross, they meet by chance. It was a pleasure to meet you. I hope our paths cross again soon.

See also: cross

the primrose path (literary)

if you lead someone down the primrose path, you encourage them to live an easy life that is full of pleasure but bad for them. Unable to enjoy his newly acquired wealth, he felt he was being led down the primrose path that leads to destruction.

take the line/path of least resistance

to act in the way which will be easiest because you will not have to argue with other people about it. You could always take the line of least resistance and go with the majority vote.

See also: least, line, resistance, take

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beat a path to someone's door

to be very eager to see you. Whenever some ordinary guy wins a big lottery, the press beats a path to his door.

See also: beat, door

cross your path

to happen to you. If you only write about whatever crosses your path each day, your writing may not be very interesting to most readers.

See also: cross

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, garden, lead

off the beaten path

not known or popular with many people. She enjoyed going to foreign-language movies that were a little bit off the beaten path.

See also: beaten

the path of least resistance

the way that is the easiest. Thieves usually take the path of least resistance, taking the cars that are easiest to steal.

See also: least, resistance