PhrasesHub

pulling my leg

    Definitions

      • teasing or joking
        To playfully deceive or trick someone, often by making them believe something that is not true

      • doubting the truthfulness of a statement
        To express skepticism or disbelief in response to something someone has said

    Examples of pulling my leg

    • "My friend told me that he saw a unicorn in Central Park yesterday. I know he's just pulling my leg!"

      In this example, "pulling my leg" is being used as an expression that means telling a lie or making a false statement, usually in order to make someone laugh or to test their reaction. It implies that the unicorn story is not true and that the friend is joking around with the speaker. The idiom "pulling someone's leg" is a figurative expression that comes from the literal action of pulling someone's leg to make them laugh or move suddenly. It has been in use since the 1920s.

    • "My boss said that I had to work overtime this weekend, but I don't think he's serious- he's probably just pulling my leg!"

      In this example, "pulling my leg" is being used to refer to an unexpected or unlikely statement that the speaker isn't sure is true. It suggests that the boss's request for overtime work may not be genuine and that the speaker is uncertain whether they need to take it seriously.

    • "My sister told me that she's training for a marathon, but I'm not convinced- I think she's just pulling my leg!"

      In this example, "pulling my leg" is being used to refer to a statement that seems unlikely or that the speaker is skeptical about. It implies that the sister's claims about marathon training may not be genuine and that the speaker is unsure whether to believe her.

    • "My friend kept making these ridiculous suggestions for our vacation plans, like swimming with sharks or climbing a mountain without any gear! I knew he was just pulling my leg- he's not that crazy!"

      In this example, "pulling my leg" is being used to refer to a series of extreme or unusual proposals that the speaker doesn't think are serious or practical. It implies that the friend's suggestions are meant as a joke or a joke proposal, rather than as serious suggestions for the vacation plans.

    • Sarah told me that she had seen a UFO last night, but as she started describing it with intricate details, I realized that she was pulling my leg.

      The expression "pulling my leg" in this context means Sarah was lying or joking about seeing a UFO with the intention of making me believe it, even though it was not true. This idiom is derived from the physical action of pulling someone's leg, which typically involves someone pretending to support a heavy weight, causing the other person to feel an exaggerated tension in their own legs, which is then released once the "pull" is complete. In this figurative sense, "pulling my leg" represents a similar action, where someone tries to fool others into believing something that is not real.

    • "I thought you were serious about quitting your job and moving to Bali, but I realized you were just pulling my leg."

      This example shows the idiom being used in the context of someone making a false statement or playing a prank on someone else, implying that they were not actually serious about their initial statement.

    • "After your friend revealed that he had actually passed his driving test, you realized he had been pulling your leg all along about still needing to study."

      This example shows the idiom being used in the context of someone leading someone else to believe something false or exaggerated, with the expectation that they will eventually reveal the truth.

    • "During the team meeting, the boss made a joke about working over the weekend, but we all knew he was just pulling our legs, as he never expects us to do that."

      This example shows the idiom being used in the context of someone making a humorous or lighthearted statement that is not intended to be taken seriously.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "pulling my leg" can be used to describe either teasing or joking with someone, or expressing doubt about the truthfulness of a statement. In both cases, it implies some level of deception or disbelief, and is often used in a lighthearted or playful manner.

    Origin of "pulling my leg"

    The origin of the idiom "pulling my leg" is not entirely clear, but it is thought to have originated in the late 19th or early 20th century. It is believed to have originated in British slang, and may have been derived from the idea of physically pulling someone's leg as a form of playful trickery. Another theory suggests that it may have originated from the idea of tripping someone by pulling their leg, thereby metaphorically "tripping them up" with a deception or falsehood. Regardless of its exact origins, the idiom has become widely used in English-speaking countries to convey the ideas of teasing, joking, or expressing doubt.