A mistake or a deliberate false clue?
Imagine two employees give you different pickup times. That could be a simple mistake. The idiom suggests that someone knowingly gave you false information to mislead you.
In a game, that deliberate misdirection can be part of the fun. In a contract or purchase, the idiom implies deception that may have consequences.
Der Anbieter hat mich mit erfundenen Bewertungen an der Nase herumgeführt.
The seller misled me with made-up reviews.
“Mich” is the person who fell for the false information.
Who is being misled?
The person being misled is in the accusative. Use “Er führt mich an der Nase herum” or “Er führt uns an der Nase herum”. The fixed phrase “an der Nase” stays the same.
Herumführen is separable. In a main clause, “herum” goes at the end. The perfect form is “hat herumgeführt”, and a subordinate clause can read “weil er uns an der Nase herumführt”.
Beim Krimispiel führt die Spielleiterin uns absichtlich an der Nase herum.
In the mystery game, the host deliberately sends us down the wrong track.
Here, deception is part of the game.
Clarify before drawing a conclusion
If you're unsure about the intention, describe what you noticed. “Gestern stand hier noch ein anderer Preis. Können Sie das erklären?” lets you ask for clarification without accusing anyone of deception.
Among friends, saying “Du hast uns ganz schön an der Nase herumgeführt” with a laugh can acknowledge that a trick worked. A serious tone can turn the same words into an accusation.
Ich glaube, dass er seine Kundschaft an der Nase herumführt.
I think he's misleading his customers.
In the subordinate clause, the whole verb “herumführt” appears together at the end.
Everyday conversations
A false trail at the quiz
Jana and Emil are solving a picture puzzle. Their friend Mira knows the answer and has given them a clue.
- Jana
Auf dem Bild soll ein Hund sein, aber ich sehe nur eine alte Uhr.
There’s supposed to be a dog in the picture, but all I see is an old clock.
- Emil
Vielleicht führt Mira uns mit dem Tipp an der Nase herum.
Maybe Mira is sending us down the wrong track with that clue.
- Jana
Moment, der Schatten hinter der Uhr sieht aus wie eine Katze.
Wait, the shadow behind the clock looks like a cat.
- Emil
Stimmt! Mit dem Hund wollte sie uns wohl nur in die Irre führen.
You're right! She was probably just trying to mislead us with the dog.
Usage note
Use it with care in a dispute. If you don't know what the person intended, ask about the conflicting information first.
Three practice tasks
Try each task before opening the explanation.
What is the speaker alleging when they say “Der Verkäufer hat mich an der Nase herumgeführt”?
Answer and explanation
Der Verkäufer hat sie absichtlich getäuscht.
The idiom implies deliberate misdirection. A calculation error by itself doesn't imply that.
You’re talking about yourself. Which form completes “Der Verkäufer hat ___ an der Nase herumgeführt”?
Answer and explanation
mich
The person being misled is in the accusative. The correct form of “ich” is “mich”.
You notice conflicting information and want to leave the intention open. Which reply works?
Answer and explanation
Hier steht eine andere Uhrzeit. Können Sie das kurz erklären?
The question points out the difference and leaves room for an honest mistake.
What to remember
Learn “jemanden an der Nase herumführen” with a concrete action that leads someone to believe something false.