yank someone's chain
Pull their leg
To yank someone's chain is to tease, provoke, or deliberately annoy them, often by saying something false or exaggerated to get a reaction: Relax, I'm just yanking your chain.
The image is of jerking a dog's leash or a chain attached to something restrained.
The phrase implies the teasing is playful rather than malicious, though the person being yanked may not always see it that way.
- provokeIncite a response
- get a rise out ofProvoke a reaction
- teaseMock playfully
- bust chopsMock or criticize persistently
- jokeHumorous statement seeking laughter
fool around · give a hard time · annoy · mislead · prank · trick · joshing · jest · mess with · deceive · wind up · manipulate · jerk around · rib · irk · hoax · pull someone's leg · take for a ride
yank someone's chaintell it like it is
Speak with complete candor
speak plainly · be honest · lay one's cards on the table · no kidding
yanks, yanked, yanking, chain, chains, chained, chaining, chainless