pull the leg of
Definition
- Verb (idiom):
- To tease or joke with someone by telling them something that is not true, in a playful and harmless manner. The intent is amusement rather than deception, and it is typically done among friends or in a lighthearted context.
Usage
- This idiom is used in informal situations to describe the act of playful teasing through mild deception.
- It is commonly used in the form of a question ("Are you pulling my leg?") to express disbelief or to check if someone is joking.
- The tone is not malicious; it implies fun and camaraderie.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- The idiom can be used in various tenses while keeping the core phrase "pull [someone's] leg" intact.
- Past: He pulled my leg about the surprise party.
- Continuous: Stop pulling my leg; tell me the truth!
- Passive (less common but possible): I felt like I was having my leg pulled the entire time.
Variants and Related Words
- Leg-pull (noun): An instance of teasing or joking in this manner.
- His story about the alien was just a friendly leg-pull.
Synonyms
- Tease: To make fun of or attempt to provoke in a playful way.
- Kid: To deceive or tease playfully (e.g., ).
- Rib: To tease or make fun of someone good-naturedly.
- Joke with: To say something for amusement, not to be taken seriously.
Related Idioms
- String someone along: To deceive someone over a period, often less playful and more manipulative than "pull someone's leg."
- Put someone on: To tease or hoax someone (similar in meaning and informality).
Verb
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tell false information to for fun
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Are you pulling my leg?
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