General deception:
* Pull the wool over someone's eyes: To deceive someone, often by hiding the truth.
* Lead someone on: To give someone false hope or encouragement.
* Take someone for a ride: To deceive someone, often in a way that is financially harmful.
* Con someone: To deceive someone in a cunning or manipulative way.
* Play someone for a fool: To treat someone as if they are stupid or easily deceived.
More specific deception:
* Twist the truth: To tell a story that is not entirely accurate.
* Spin a yarn: To tell a lie or a fabricated story.
* Fudge the figures: To manipulate numbers to make them seem more favorable.
* Cook the books: To falsify financial records.
Deception through manipulation:
* Play someone like a fiddle: To manipulate someone easily.
* Pull strings: To use influence or connections to get what you want.
* Have someone eating out of your hand: To have someone completely under your control.
* Put someone on a pedestal: To elevate someone to a position of power or authority, often to deceive them or exploit them.
The best idiom to use will depend on the specific situation and the level of formality. For example, "pull the wool over someone's eyes" is a more informal idiom than "deceive."