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Permalink Reply by natalia on February 7, 2012 at 17:26

i have already knew the idiom. i needed much time for remembering it. sounds rather starnge, thought:)

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TeacherPermalink Reply by English Teacher Jamie on February 8, 2012 at 1:45

This phrase has an interesting history. In olden days robbers used to pull the legs of unsuspecting victims, to trip them over and steal their valuables. Over time it's evolved into meaning to make a joke of someone, trick someone.

More information here:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_did_pulling_your_leg_come_from

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Permalink Reply by Blue Peace on February 8, 2012 at 14:55

Its history sounds interesting. ^^ Hehe

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Permalink Reply by ika pescaprae on February 13, 2012 at 14:52

I like this idiom because my friends always pull my leg. They make me laugh and happy with their childish joke although they are between 35 until 50 years old and I am 24 years. Then I aware why they look younger than their ages...just joke everyday in work place.

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TeacherPermalink Reply by English Teacher Jamie on February 13, 2012 at 15:05

It's nice that you can joke with your friends! Your work place sounds fun!

I hope that you pull their legs too sometimes. :)

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Permalink Reply by Johnny Simpson on June 16, 2012 at 1:38

Apparently, the term originated from capital punishment.

When hanging was used as a deterrent against crime many years ago, it took around 30 minutes for the person to die. A slow painful strangulation  :/

If the person was lucky, friends would pull on their legs to speed up the process of death, so inventing the expression 'pulling your leg' .

http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b0105r8x/    about 8 minutes in, hopefully is accessible outside of the UK. If not, you'll just have to take my word for it, haha..

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Una on June 18, 2012 at 12:44

Hah, are you pulling my leg??

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Permalink Reply by Blue Peace on September 2, 2012 at 13:44

Today, I watched a video and I saw an idiom that means "tell a lie": Pull the wool over somebody's eyes. It reminded me of this idiom. Teacher, Is there any difference between these two idioms? :D

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TeacherPermalink Reply by English Teacher Jamie on September 2, 2012 at 14:06

It's a similar idiom! Pull the wool over somebody's eyes is to deceive or trick someone. It's a little more serious than pulling my leg - which is more of a joke.

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Permalink Reply by Blue Peace on September 2, 2012 at 16:33

Thank you teacher, hehe. When I read the idiom "pull the wool over somebody'eyes, I imagined of a little cat playing with the wool near by a sad person. :D I don't know why I thought of that. :D

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