Definition

1. Verb (idiomatic expression):
   • To tease or joke with someone in a playful, non-malicious way: To tell someone something that is not true as a joke, with the intention of amusing yourself and the other person when they realize it is not serious.

Usage

• This phrase is used to describe the act of good-naturedly deceiving someone for humorous purposes. It implies a friendly, joking relationship. The deception is temporary and meant to be discovered, leading to shared laughter.
• Common sentence patterns:
  • [Subject] is pulling [someone's] leg.
  • Don't worry, [Subject] was just pulling your leg.
  • Are you pulling my leg?

Examples

• Verb:
  • When he said he had bought an elephant, I knew he was pulling my leg.
  • She told me the meeting was canceled, but she was just pulling my leg.
  • "I won the lottery!" – "Really?" – "No, I'm just pulling your leg!"

Advanced Usage

• The phrase can be used in various tenses like any verb.
  • He pulled my leg about it yesterday. (Past Simple)
  • They are always pulling each other's legs. (Present Continuous)
• It is often used in the negative imperative ("Don't pull my leg") or as a question ("Are you pulling my leg?") to express disbelief or to check if someone is joking.

Variants and Related Words

• Leg-pull (noun, informal): An instance of teasing or joking deception.
  • His story about the ghost was just a friendly leg-pull.

Synonyms

• Tease: To make fun of or attempt to provoke in a playful way.
• Kid: To speak to someone in a joking or teasing way (informal).
• Rib: To tease or make fun of someone good-naturedly (informal).
• Joke with someone: To say something humorous or not serious to someone.

Related Phrases

• Have someone on (phrasal verb, chiefly British): To deceive someone playfully; similar to "pull someone's leg."
  • He didn't really mean it; he was just having you on.

Related Idioms

• Just joking/Just kidding: Phrases used to immediately clarify that a previous statement was not serious.
• You're joking!: An exclamation of disbelief, often used when suspecting someone is "pulling your leg."

Verb

1. subject to a playful hoax or joke