bum steer
Misleading advice given
A bum steer is misleading information or bad advice that leads someone astray: He gave me a bum steer on that investment.
The phrase comes from steering someone in the wrong direction—bum here meaning worthless or defective.
It's informal and somewhat dated but still understood.
Hopeless pursuit of nothing
- red herringIntentional misleading distraction
- false trailMisleading set of clues
- dead endPassage without outlet
- distractionThing diverting one's attention
smokescreen · decoy · fool's errand · snipe hunt · detour · wrong track · blind alley · rabbit hole
- wrong directionIncorrect path taken
- false leadMisleading clue or trail
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
wild goose chase
Hopeless pursuit of nothing
- red herringIntentional misleading distraction
- false trailMisleading set of clues
- dead endPassage without outlet
distraction · smokescreen · decoy · fool's errand · snipe hunt · detour · wrong track · blind alley · rabbit hole · runaround
bad advice
- wrong directionIncorrect path taken
- false leadMisleading clue or trail
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
con
Argument against
hoax · fraud · hustle · flimflam · bamboozle · snow job · fast one · put-on · setup · double-cross
blunder
Foolish, costly mistake
- errorFault in communication
- miscalculationError in estimation
- misjudgmentFaulty evaluation of something
gaffe · slip-up · foul-up · botch · goof · flub · miscue · snafu · bungle · oversight
bum steerwise counsel
Prudent advisory input
sage advice · straight dope · hot tip · inside information · expert advice
bum, steer, mislead, steering, misleading, steered, misdirected, misleads, misdirection