Pull a fast one

Feifei Welcome to The English We Speak, I’m Feifei.

Neil And I’m Neil. Feifei - what do you think of my new phone?

Feifei Let’s have a look - hmm… it looks… unusual.

Neil It’s great. This guy sold it to me. He said it was a top-secret new model - it’s not been released in the shops yet. Here, look…

Feifei How do I… unlock it?

Neil You just… err… it’s frozen. Let me just… no.

Feifei Who did you say you bought it from?

Neil A guy on the street.

Feifei I hate to say it Neil, but I think he pulled a fast one on you!

Neil But he… oh no.

Feifei Sorry. To pull a fast one means to deceive or play a trick on someone. We say you pull a fast one on or with somebody. The phone seller pulled a fast one on Neil. Listen to these examples:

Examples The shopkeeper tried to pull a fast one on me. He gave me a £5 note as change instead of a £20 note.

Don’t you try and pull a fast one with me! I know you’re not really sick. Get back to work.

Neil So, that’s it. All that money wasted. What an idiot. Oh, is that my phone?

Feifei Sorry, it’s mine. Hello? Yes… No, I don’t think so… Thanks!

Neil Who was it?

Feifei The guy called to say I’ve won a million pounds. All I have to do is give him my bank details and he’ll pay me.

Neil Someone else trying to pull a fast one!

Feifei Sadly, yes! I could do with a million pounds. I’d even buy you a new phone, Neil.

Neil You’re too kind.

Feifei And that’s it for this edition of The English We Speak. Bye.

Neil Bye.