Yanking Someone's Chain/Pulling Someone's Leg

There are many terms used to show disbelief, two common ones are Pulling Someone's Leg and Yanking Someone's Chain.

As you'll see in the video, you can also say "Pulling Someone's Chain" but that isn't used as much today, and is similar to Pulling Someone's Leg.

"You're pulling my leg", said with a bit of disbelief, is used more to show skepticism over something that was just told to you. Watch the clip at this link to see a scene from the classic movie, Willy Wonka, to see it used in context.

Link to Grandpa Joe saying, "You're pulling our legs Charlie..."

When people use the expression "Yanking Someone's Leg" it's usually when they think someone is trying to "get over on them" by tricking them and they are irritated by it.

Example:
Worker A)  Hey Ronald, I hear the boss is looking for you.
Worker B)  Really, why?
Worker A)  I hear he's going to give you a big fat promotion.
Worker B)  Quit yanking my chain, there's no way that's going to happen and it isn't funny.

 

Also, someone may shorten it to "What are you trying to pull... (then add) I wasn't born yesterday"... or, I didn't just fall off the turnip truck. Both expressions show more than simple skepticism to what they just heard.

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Joseph Teaches English

Stick in the Mud/ Wet Blanket

Today I'm going to tell you about two phrases.

The first is Stick in the Mud.

A Stick in the Mud is a person that is "set in their ways" and doesn't like to do new things.

Example:
Let's take a grandfather and his grandson. The grandson asks his grandfather if he'd like to play video games with him. Instead of politely declining the invitation, a "Stick in the Mud" would be unnecessarily negative in his response. (see video for example)


The second phrase is Wet Blanket.

A Wet Blanket is a negative person who tends to ruin other people's good times with constant complaints.

Let's use the same grandfather, this time being asked by his grandson if he'd like to go to the movies with him. A "Wet Blanket" won't simply decline the invitation. He/she will give a long list of reasons why the activity is a bad idea. Which makes the mood feel as if someone had tossed a "wet blanket" onto it.