Any English equivalent for the French expression, “endormir quelqu'un avec des propos"?

Question

In French, one can figuratively use the expression, “endormir quelqu'un," meaning that by using some lengthy/boring/loose explanation, we make the interlocutor less vigilant, thereby forgetting about a few things that you know they had in mind but that you want them to forget during the discussion (e.g. X knows that Y is going to complain about Z during a discussion, so X will talk in such a way that Y will forget or get confused and/or forget to mention or insist on Z).

Is there any equivalent English expression?

EDIT: Interestingly, I saw the verb "sleep" being used in a similar fashion in gang slang:

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It won't necessarily work in all contexts, but when it does fit, to *lull someone into a false sense of security* is a very common idiomatic usage. Perhaps in the specific context OP has in mind, the interlocutor becomes so relaxed and reassured he mistakenly thinks his concerns have been properly addressed, so he fails to explicitly bring them up and demand truly satisfactory answers. — FumbleFingers, Jun 10 '14 at 23:33
Using the WordReference translation and your explanation also reminds me of the idiom bore someone to death, although this phrase isn't generally associated with the purpose of distracting someone. — Pockets, Jun 11 '14 at 01:23

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 10 '14 at 15:57

We speak of burying either the hearer or the matter to be avoided in facts/data/statistics/paperwork.

We also use an opposite image, drawn from dance: Dazzle 'em with footwork, meaning to discourse so eloquently and interestingly on another topic that hearers fail to observe that we have evaded the topic they are interested in.

score 2 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 11 '14 at 01:51

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In English, this expression is known as changing the subject.

A person can also be dissuaded from remembering, but that is way too formal for regular conversation.

A better example would be to distract someone.

edited Jun 11 '14 at 01:51

Esoteric Screen Name

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answered Jun 10 '14 at 15:35

dockeryZ

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score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 10 '14 at 19:26

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Some alternatives:

Muddy the waters.

Put up a strawman.

answered Jun 10 '14 at 19:26

DTRT

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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 11 '14 at 00:45

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The translation I would use is, "Put someone to sleep." (As a distraction from the real issue.)

answered Jun 11 '14 at 00:45

Tom Au

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Any English equivalent for the French expression, “endormir quelqu'un avec des propos"?

4 Answers4