Pull Someone's Leg

Pull Someone’s Leg

Welcome to English in a Minute.

In conversations, it is very common to pull someone’s leg.

I’m not joking.

To Pull Someone’s Leg

I forgot to water Ashley’s plant and it died.

She comes back tomorrow.

What should I do?

Okay. Go to the plant store and buy Plant-Don’t-Die.

Mix it with Green Bean Cola and pour it on the plant.

It will come back to life in no time.

Right!

Wait a minute.

You’re pulling my leg.

There’s no such thing as Green Bean Cola.

To pull someone’s leg means to joke with someone.

pulling someone’s leg is lighthearted and not mean-spirited.

Jonathan pulled Anna’s leg when he said “Green Bean Cola” and a product called “Plant-Don’t-Die” would save my dead plant.

Sadly, Anna did not fully understand his joke.

And that’s English in a Minute.