pull someone's leg

英语

词源

该短语源自苏格兰，原意为“捉弄某人”，尤其是通过欺骗的方式。一理论认为其来自通过猛拽某人的腿来使其摔倒而捉弄他/她的说法。

发音

• （澳洲）音频：

  (檔案)

动词

pull someone's leg (第三人稱單數簡單現在時 pulls someone's leg，現在分詞 pulling someone's leg，簡單過去時和過去分詞 pulled someone's leg)

1. (俗語) 捉弄某人，开某人的玩笑，戏耍某人
   • 1934, Rex Stout, Fer-de-Lance, 1992 Bantam edition, ISBN 0553278193, page 111:

     I hadn't pulled Mrs. Barstow's leg for any of that stuff, she had just handed it to me on a platter, and that wasn't my fault.

   • 1979，Life of Brian‎^[1]，由 Mr. Cheeky（Eric Idle）：

     No, I'm just pulling your leg, it's crucifixion really.

     （請為本引文添加中文翻譯）

2. (俗語，棄用) 从某人骗钱（通过借钱或敲竹杠等方式）（19世纪末）
   • 1886, Mark Well, “An Old-Time Tip”, in Wallace's Monthly‎^[2], volume 12:

     I'm very glad to hear of his good fortune; but it's a deuced strange thing, for I saw him at the club last night and he never said a word of it. I'll pull his leg when I see him.

     （請為本引文添加中文翻譯）

   • 1893, John Kendrick Bangs, Coffee and Repartee‎^[3]:

     The verb 'to-pull-his-leg' means to extract from his pocket all the lucre it will yield.

     （請為本引文添加中文翻譯）

   • 1895, Reports of Decisions in Probate‎^[4]:

     "I would 'pull his leg,' but Laura will not work with me." The expression "pulling his leg," Miss Sullivan explained as meaning to coax or wheedle his wealth out of him.

     （請為本引文添加中文翻譯）

衍生词汇

• pull the other one, it's got bells on

参见

• yank someone's chain
• have a lend of
• make a fool of
• wind up
• kid