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The idiom “Pull Someone’s Leg” typically refers to “trying to persuade someone to believe something that is not true, as a joke”. It is accurate in a situation where someone tricks or lies to someone in a playful way and does not hurt someone’s feelings.
It is a phrase from Scotland and is driven from theory to pull someone’s leg and make them look foolish. This act of pulling someone’s leg is generally done all the time around us or maybe with us by our friends and family.
Also Read: Idioms with examples
Usage with Example
The idiom to pull someone’s leg means to deceive or joke in a playful, harmless way. A few examples of this idiom are:
- Don’t pay attention to what she said. She’s just pulling your leg.
- Are you serious about it? Seems like you are pulling my leg.
- Did she mean it when she said she’s not taking you along or was she just pulling your leg?
- Being his childhood friend, he was always pulling Rohan’s leg, but he has always been there for him whenever Roan needed help.
Also Read: Burn your bridges
Pull Someone’s Leg Synonyms
Given below are some synonyms for this idiom:
- Lead one down the garden path
- Pull the wool over one’s eyes
- Suck in
- String along
- Make fun of
Also Read: Idioms for IELTS
Pull Someone’s Leg Quiz
After going through all the information on the ‘Pull someone’s leg’ idiom, it’s time to test your knowledge of his topic which will help you test your knowledge. We have provided answers to all the questions at the end to check your performance.
Question 1:
What does it mean to “pull someone’s leg”?
- (a) To physically pull their leg
- (b) To tease or joke with someone in a playful way
- (c) To trick someone in a harmful way
- (d) To help someone
Answer: (b) To tease or joke with someone in a playful way
Question 2:
Which of the following is a synonym for “pull someone’s leg”?
- (a) Compliment someone
- (b) Make fun of someone
- (c) Insult someone
- (d) Ignore someone
Answer: (b) Make fun of someone
Question 3:
In which situation would it be appropriate to say “I was just pulling your leg”?
- (a) After accidentally injuring someone
- (b) After telling someone a surprising but untrue piece of news
- (c) After giving someone a sincere compliment
- (d) After offering someone help
Answer: (b) After telling someone a surprising but untrue piece of news
Question 4:
Which of the following is NOT an example of “pulling someone’s leg”?
- (a) Telling a friend that you won the lottery when you didn’t
- (b) Hiding a friend’s phone and then giving them clues to find it
- (c) Telling a friend that you don’t like their new haircut when you really do
- (d) Giving a friend a genuine and heartfelt compliment
Answer: (d) Giving a friend a genuine and heartfelt compliment
Question 5:
What is the origin of the idiom “pull someone’s leg”?
- (a) It comes from a children’s game
- (b) It originated in ancient Greece
- (c) The exact origin is unknown, but it likely arose in the late 1800s
- (d) It is a modern expression that originated in the 1990s
Answer: (c) The exact origin is unknown, but it likely arose in the late 1800s
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FAQs
Pulling someone’s leg idiom means to make someone believe in something that is a joke or not a truth. Stop pulling my leg – I know I have brought a kid’s lunchbox.
The meaning of pulling someone’s leg is to tease someone playfully. A kind of joke we did with our friends to make fun of them.
It means to make of someone in a fun way teasing them to believe something untrue. For example – He was just pulling your leg when he said that he won a car in the contest.
No, while you might be saying something untrue when pulling someone’s leg, the key difference is the intent. Lying is meant to deceive and often has negative consequences. Pulling someone’s leg is done in a playful spirit, and the goal is usually to reveal the joke fairly quickly. There’s no malicious intent.
It’s appropriate when the other person is likely to take it in good humour and when the situation is lighthearted. It’s generally best to know the person well and understand their sense of humour. Avoid pulling someone’s leg when they are stressed, upset, or in a serious situation.
While related, “pulling someone’s leg” is often more verbal and less elaborate than a prank. A prank might involve a physical action or a more complex scheme. Pulling someone’s leg is often a quick, witty exchange.
Yes, many languages have similar idioms for playful teasing or joking. These often involve metaphors related to trickery or lighthearted deception.
This was all about the idiom “Pull Someone’s Leg” meaning and examples. You can also follow the Learn English page of Leverage Edu for more exciting and informative blogs related to English grammar and the English language.
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