poudre aux yeux
common noun
Syllable Decomposition
poudre aux yeuxAt that time, the word 'puldre' meant 'dust'. Throwing dust on someone was used in races to designate the one who was in the lead and who blinded his pursuers. The sense of blinding has remained, while the sense of winning has disappeared, although the expression is still attested in 1559 (ietter la poudre en l'œil à (quelqu'un) = to outdo someone).