pull my leg

/pʊl maɪ lɛɡ/◆idiom

to joke with someone

He said he won the lottery, but he was just pulling my leg.

He was joking about winning the lottery.

◆ What It Really Means

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

¶ Literal Meaning

To physically pull someone's leg as a playful gesture.

Literal Breakdown

pullto grab and move something with force+mybelonging to me+legthe part of the body below the knee

◇ Mental Image

The mental image of someone playfully pulling another person's leg to tease them.

◈ When to Use

A friend tells you they won a million dollars, but you suspect they are joking. You might say, 'You're pulling my leg, right?'

◉ Cultural Note

This idiom is commonly used in English-speaking countries and is often used to express skepticism or to call out someone for joking.

informal

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

She told me she saw a ghost, but I think she was just pulling my leg.

She was joking about seeing a ghost.

Don't pull my leg about the exam being canceled; I need to know the truth.

Don't joke about the exam being canceled; I need to know if it's true.

This phrase is often used to express skepticism or to call out someone for joking.

to tease or joke with someone

This phrase is typically used in casual conversations and is not appropriate for formal or serious discussions.

The origin of this idiom is unclear, but it likely comes from the idea of physically pulling someone's leg as a playful gesture.

This phrase is commonly used in informal contexts to express that someone is joking or teasing.

English Dictionary