Pull the other leg Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈpʊɫ/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈəðɝ/ /ˈɫɛɡ

POOL thee UH-dher LEG

UK

pˈʊl/ /ðə, ði/ /ˈʌðɐ/ /lˈɛɡ

POOL thee UTH-uh LEG

Definition

This is an idiom meaning to joke with someone or try to trick them, often by pretending something silly or unbelievable is true.

Usage & Nuances

Very informal and British in origin. Usually said when you think someone is joking or not telling the truth. Similar to 'Are you kidding me?' but less common in American English. Not used in formal writing.

• Spanish: tomar el pelo (expresión) - no me engañes
• Portuguese (BR): tá brincando (expressão) - enganar (brincando)
• Portuguese (PT): estás a brincar (expressão) - gozar
• Chinese (Simplified): 开玩笑吧 (不是认真的) - 别骗我
• Chinese (Traditional): 開玩笑吧 (不是認真的) - 別騙我
• Hindi: मजाक कर रहे हो - मुझे मूर्ख मत बनाओ
• Arabic: تمزح معي (تعبير) - لا تخدعني
• Bengali: ঠাট্টা করা - মজা করা (বিষয়বস্তু অবিশ্বাস্য হলে)
• Russian: разыгрывать - шутить (по-дружески)
• Japanese: からかう - 冗談を言う
• Vietnamese: trêu đùa - nói đùa (làm như điều gì đó khó tin là thật)
• Korean: 장난치다 - 놀리다
• Turkish: kafa bulmak - dalga geçmek
• Urdu: مذاق کرنا - چکر دینا (جب کوئی عجیب بات کرے)
• Indonesian: menggoda - bercanda (tentang sesuatu yang tidak masuk akal)

Example Sentences

Are you serious, or are you pulling the other leg?

basic

He tried to pull the other leg, but I knew the story wasn't true.

basic

Don't pull the other leg, I know you didn't win the lottery.

basic

Come on, stop pulling the other leg—nobody believes you met a movie star yesterday!

natural

Oh, you're just pulling the other leg again—I almost fell for it this time!

natural

If you're pulling the other leg, at least come up with a better story!

natural