Pull someone’s leg idiom means to tease or joke with someone in a playful way, often by making them believe something that isn’t true for a moment.
Quick Summary
Idiom: Pull someone’s leg
Meaning: To tease or joke with someone by telling them something untrue in a light, playful way
Example: Raj told Meera he had failed all his exams, then laughed and said he was just pulling her leg.
When someone “pulls your leg”, they are not trying to hurt. They are just joking or pretending something is true. So you react, and then they admit it was a joke. Tone and context are important – this idiom is used only for friendly, harmless teasing.
For example, Mike might say, “Relax, I was just pulling your leg when I said the boss was angry with you.” Or Jenny could tell her friend, “Don’t take him seriously, he loves pulling people’s legs about their fashion choices.”
This idiom is perfect for conversations about friends joking around, family teasing, office banter, or any situation where someone is “kidding” but not being cruel.
Want to learn more idioms easily? Check out our Complete Guide to Everyday American Idioms – you’ll find more simple meanings, fun examples, and real-life practice!
10 Simple Examples of Pull Someone’s Leg Idiom
- Rahul pulled his friend’s leg by pretending he had forgotten their Goa trip tickets.
- Priya pulled her brother’s leg by telling him their parents had read all his private messages.
- Tom loves pulling his coworkers’ legs with wild stories about meeting celebrities on flights.
- Aisha pulled her cousin’s leg by saying the wedding date had been moved to a weekday.
- David pulled his roommate’s leg by claiming the landlord had doubled the rent overnight.
- Neha pulled Rohan’s leg by telling him the exam results were out an hour earlier than they really were.
- James pulled his sister’s leg by saying their family dog had been sold to the neighbours.
- Sofia pulled her friend’s leg by pretending she had chopped off all her hair before the party.
- Arjun pulled his teammate’s leg by joking that the coach had benched him for the whole season.
- Lila pulled her classmates’ legs by announcing a surprise test, then laughing and saying it was a prank.
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