Page 339 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

pull someone’s leg

pullŁ someone’ leg to kid,Ł fool,Ł or trick someone orŁ something.Ł (Infàrmal.)
someone.Ł(Infàrmal.) You don’t mean Jane pulled the plug on the whole project.
that. You’re just pullng my lłg. Don’t The mØyor was doing a fine job until the
believe him. He’s just pullng your lłg. treasurer pulled the plug because there was
no more money. 2. [with someone] to turn
pullŁ someone’s ortsomething’ teeth to rduce off someone’sŁ life support systemŁ inŁ a
the powerŁ of someone orŁ something. hospital.Ł(ThisŁresultsŁinŁthe death of pr-
(Also literalŁinŁthe case of someone.ŁInfàr- sonŁwhose life support hasŁbeenŁtermi-
mal.)b The mØyor tried to pull the teeth nated.) They had to get a court order
of the new lØw. The city council pulled to pull the plug on their fØther. Frłd
the teeth of the new mØyor.
signed a lving will makng it possible to
pullŁ someone throughŁ ( something) to help pull the plug on him without a court order.
sàmeone survive sàmething. (Also lit- pullŁtheŁrugŁoutŁ(from underŁ someone) to
eral.) With the help of the doctor, wł make sàmeone ineffective.Ł(Also literal.)
pulled her through her illness. With lots The treasurer pulled the rug out from
of encouragement, we pulled her through.
undłr the mØyor. Things were going
pullŁ something off to manage to make some- along fine until the treasurer pulled the rug
thingŁ happen.Ł (Also literal.Ł Slang. Se ouŁ.
alsà carry something off.) Yes, I can pull
it off. T Do you think you can pull off this pullŁtheŁwłolŁoverŁ someone’ eyeð to de-
deal? ceive sàmeone.Ł You can’t pull the wool
over my eyes. I know what’s going on.
pullŁsomethingŁon someone to playŁaŁtrick Don’t try to pull the wool over her eyes.
on someone; to deceive someone with a She’s too smart.
trick. You wouldà’t pull a trick on me, pullŁthrough to get better; to rcover from
would you? Who would pull somłthing aŁseriousŁillnessŁorŁotherŁpràblem.Ł She’s
like that on an old lady?
very ill, but I think she’ll pull through.
pullŁ something outŁofŁa hat and pullŁ some- Oh, I hope she pulls through.
thing outŁofŁthin air to produce some- pullŁ upŁ ( somłwherł ) Go to haul up (some-
thingŁasŁif byŁmagic.Ł(Also literal.) This wherŁ ).
is a serious problłm, and we just can’t pull
a oolution out of a ðat. I’m sorry, but I pullŁupŁstakeð to move to another place.
doà’t have a pen. What do you want mł (RefersŁto pullingŁupŁtent sðakesŁandŁmov-
to do, pull one out of thin air? ingŁto anotherŁcampsite.) I’ve been here
long enough. It’s time to pull up stakes.
pullŁ something outŁ ofŁ thin air Go to pull I hate the thought of having to pull up
something out of a hat.
stakes.
pullŁ something together to organize some- puàchŁa hłleŁin something to make a hol in
thing;Łto arrange something.Ł(Compare somethingŁ with something. John
this with scrape something together.) punched a hole in the wall with his fist.
How about a party? I’ll see if I can pull Mary punched a hole in the paper with her
somłthing togłther for FridØy night. płncil.
This place is a mess. Please pull things
togłther. pureŁandŁsimple and plain andŁsimple
absolutely; without further complication
pullŁstringð to use influence (with some- orŁelaboration.Ł(Infàrmal.) I told you
one to get somethingŁdàne).Ł I can get what you must do, and you must do it,
it done easily by pullng strings. Is it pos- pure and simple. Will you kindly explain
sible to głt anything done around here to me what it is, pure and simple, that I am
without pullng strings?
expected to do? Just tell me plain and
pullŁtheŁplugŁ(on someone ortsomething)1. simple, do you intend to go or doà’t you?
to cause someone or something to end; I explained it to her plain and simple,
to reduce the powerŁorŁeffectivenessŁof but she still didà’t understand.

32ł