pull someone’s leg, to
pull someone’s leg, to - To tease or fool someone; to trick someone in a humorous way. This term for a time was thought to allude to the gruesome practice of pulling on the legs of a person who was being hanged in order to shorten his or her agony. In fact, however, the current meaning of the cliché dates only from the late nineteenth century, long after hanging was accomplished in more humane fashion (by means of a long drop). Most authorities now believe it alludes to tricking a person by tripping them, using a cane or foot or other object that, in effect, holds back one of their legs so that they fall. Current in England in the late nineteenth century, it had crossed the Atlantic by 1910, when O. Henry wrote, “You can’t pull my leg,” in his story A Little Local Color.
Similar Terms and Expressions
- Play a joke on: To perform a trick or prank on someone, usually harmless enough for laughter.
- Tease: Simply confuse or make fun of someone in a lighthearted manner.
- Have someone on: British English for fooling or tricking someone.
Synonyms
- Bamboozle
- Befuddle
- Hoodwink
- Jive
- Jest
Antonyms
- Enlighten
- Clarify
- Educate
- Unveil
Related Proverbs and Quotes
- “April Fools’ Day is the only day upon which we all feverishly observe what is taking place in every government office every other day of the year.” - Mark Twain
- “Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing.” - Mark Twain
Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies
- “A Little Local Color” by O. Henry: Dive into the story where one of the earliest instances of this phrase was found.
- “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde: Filled with linguistic play and humorous deception.
- “Can’t fool me now” by Last Dinosaurs: A catchy song about realizing you’ve been tricked.
- “Gulliver’s Travels” by Jonathan Swift: Loaded with satirical tricks and deceptions.
Inspirational Thought
“A life of laughter is richer and fuller than one taken too seriously. So pull a leg, have a laugh, and remember to always find joy in the little tricks life plays on us.”
Farewell
Thank you for diving deep into the jest-filled world of playful deceptions. Laugh, trick, and tease, for life’s too short to be taken too seriously!
