Yank your chain Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈjæŋk/ /ˈjɔɹ/, /ˈjʊɹ/ /ˈtʃeɪn

YANK yor CHAYN or YANK yer CHAYN

UK

jˈæŋk/ /jˈɔː/ /tʃˈeɪn

YANK yaw CHAYN

Definition

To tease, joke with, or trick someone in a playful way, often making them believe something that is not true.

Usage & Nuances

Very informal and idiomatic; often used to refer to playful teasing, not serious deception. Common with 'just yanking your chain.' Not used in formal writing. Similar to 'pull your leg.'

• Spanish: tomar el pelo - bromear (informal)
• Portuguese (BR): zoar - tirar sarro (informal)
• Portuguese (PT): gozar - brincar (informal)
• Chinese (Simplified): 开玩笑 (非正式) - 捉弄 (非正式)
• Chinese (Traditional): 開玩笑 (非正式) - 捉弄 (非正式)
• Hindi: मज़ाक उड़ाना - चिढ़ाना (अनौपचारिक)
• Arabic: يمزح معك - يعبث معك (غير رسمي)
• Bengali: মজা করা - ঠাট্টা করা - ঠকানো (মজা করে)
• Russian: разыгрывать - подшучивать
• Japanese: からかう - 冗談を言う
• Vietnamese: trêu chọc - đùa giỡn
• Korean: 장난치다 - 놀리다
• Turkish: dalga geçmek - şaka yapmak
• Urdu: مذاق کرنا - چھیڑنا
• Indonesian: menggoda - bercanda

Example Sentences

I was just yanking your chain. Don't be upset!

basic

Are you yanking my chain, or is this real?

basic

He likes to yank your chain about everything.

basic

Relax, I'm just yanking your chain about the surprise party.

natural

You can't believe anything she says—she's always yanking people's chains.

natural

At first I thought he was serious, but he was just yanking my chain.

natural