Pull someone's leg

The phrase Pull someone's leg is often used in English, but what does this idiom mean? When idioms are used in the right situations, they strengthen communication and enrich the language. You can communicate more effectively by learning the meaning of Pull someone's leg.

Meaning of "Pull someone's leg"

Meaning

The idiom ‘to pull someone’s leg’ typically means to tease, joke, or otherwise playfully deceive another person. It originates from an older sense of the phrase, which described a more physical action. This older meaning referred to pulling someone’s leg as a gesture of friendship, essentially tugging on the leg of someone you cared about, to show them affection. Over time, this has evolved and now almost universally implies a sense of playful trickery.

Etymology

The origin of the phrase is disputed, but some scholars argue that it likely comes from a late eighteenth century practice of gentle teasing, and in some cases, even mischief-making. This would include pulling a person’s leg or teasing them with words. There are also some theories that the phrase originated as ‘to pull leg leather’, describing the practice of pulling a person’s leather leggings as a friendly sign of good humor.

Usage

This idiom is often used to jokingly deceive someone, and can be used in various contexts. While it can occasionally be taken seriously, it is usually meant to be humorous and should be interpreted within that scope. It does not always have to be in relation to pranks or joking; it can also be used to refer to someone who exaggerates or tells untruths in order to be entertaining or evoke certain feelings in another person.

Example Sentences

• My friend was telling me about his day and I could tell he was just pulling my leg.
• Don’t even try to pull my leg, I’m not falling for it!
• My brother is always trying to pull my leg on April Fool’s Day.
• I could tell my boss was pulling my leg when he said I was getting a raise.

The Global Spread of English Idioms

As English has become a global language, its idioms have spread far beyond the borders of the UK and USA. For instance, the idiom "beat around the bush" has equivalents in many other languages, such as "tourner autour du pot" in French and "dar vueltas al asunto" in Spanish. Meanwhile, other idioms have been adapted for local contexts, such as the Russian idiom "?? ???? ???????" (ne svoya rubashka), which translates to "not one's own shirt," meaning to be in an uncomfortable or unfamiliar situation.