pull someone's leg

Meaning

This expression means to tease someone, play a harmless joke on them, or tell them something untrue as a prank. It is always used in a lighthearted, friendly, or humorous context. It is very common in casual spoken English when clarifying that you aren't being serious.

Examples

• Don't worry, I'm just pulling your leg; we didn't actually lose the keys.

  Don't worry, I'm just pulling your leg; we didn't actually lose the keys.

• He told me he won the lottery, but I knew he was just pulling my leg.

  He told me he won the lottery, but I knew he was just pulling my leg.

• Are you pulling my leg, or did you really meet the president?

  Are you pulling my leg, or did you really meet the president?

• She loves to pull her brother's leg by hiding his favorite shoes.

  She loves to pull her brother's leg by hiding his favorite shoes.

• I thought they were serious about moving to Alaska, but they were just pulling my leg.

  I thought they were serious about moving to Alaska, but they were just pulling my leg.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He is pulling my legs.

  ✓ He is pulling my leg.

  The idiom always uses the singular noun 'leg', never the plural 'legs'.

• ✗ Don't push my leg, I know you're joking.

  ✓ Don't pull my leg, I know you're joking.

  The verb is strictly 'pull', not 'push' or 'drag'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Stop ___! There's no way we have a test today.

  💡 Stop teasing me or joking with me.

  Show answer

  pulling my leg

• I thought she was mad, but she was just ___.

  💡 She was just playing a harmless joke on me.

  Show answer

  pulling my leg