Early Use and Meaning:
* The earliest known use of the phrase dates back to 1785, appearing in the play "The School for Scandal" by Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
* It was used to describe the practice of deceiving someone by using a physical object - in this case, wool - to obscure their vision.
* The image of literally covering someone's eyes with wool was a visual metaphor for hiding the truth or tricking someone into believing a falsehood.
Later Evolution:
* Over time, the phrase evolved to become a more figurative expression.
* The literal act of using wool to obscure vision was no longer necessary; the idiom became synonymous with any act of deception or trickery.
* The phrase emphasizes the deliberate nature of the deception - someone is actively "pulling" the wool over your eyes, suggesting a conscious attempt to mislead you.
In Conclusion:
The idiom "pull the wool over someone's eyes" is a colorful and vivid phrase that has been used for centuries to describe the act of deception. Its origin lies in the literal act of obscuring someone's vision with wool, but its meaning has evolved to become more figurative, representing any attempt to mislead or trick someone.