Leg-pull

/ˈlɛɡ.pʊl/

मज़ाक; टाँग-खिंचाई; छेड़छाड़

Origin & History

From the idiom “pull (someone’s) leg” (19th century), meaning to tease or joke; leg-pull is a noun formed from that phrase.

19वीं सदी के मुहावरे “pull (someone’s) leg” (किसी की टाँग खींचना/मज़ाक करना) से; उसी वाक्यांश से बना संज्ञा-रूप “leg-pull”।

Definition

A light-hearted trick or teasing remark meant to make someone believe something untrue for fun (not serious deception).

मज़ाक में किसी को थोड़ी देर के लिए झूठी बात पर यक़ीन दिलाने की हल्की-फुल्की शरारत; गंभीर धोखा नहीं।

Parts of Speech

Noun:
Don’t worry—his story was just a leg-pull.
चिंता मत करो—उसकी कहानी बस एक मज़ाक थी।

Usage Examples

I thought the announcement was real, but it turned out to be a leg-pull.
Are you serious, or is this another leg-pull?
She enjoys a harmless leg-pull on new colleagues.

Synonyms

Joke Tease Kidding Prank Ribbing Hoax (informal/light) Banter

Antonyms

Seriousness Truth Sincerity Earnestness

Related Forms

Noun
Leg-pull / Leg-pulling
Verb
Leg-pull / Leg-pulls / Leg-pulled / Leg-pulling
Adjective
Leg-pulling (attributive)

Idioms & Phrases

Pull someone's leg
किसी की टाँग खींचना; किसी से मज़ाक करना
Just pulling your leg
बस मज़ाक कर रहा/रही हूँ
A bit of leg-pulling
थोड़ी-सी टाँग-खिंचाई; हल्का मज़ाक