PULLING YOUR LEG

MONDAY PHRASE: “PULLING YOUR LEG”
My apologies. I was in flight and missed Monday for this post. Nevertheless, here it is. When someone says, “I’m just pulling your leg,” we understand it to mean teasing or joking. But one explanation traces the phrase to old London, where thieves allegedly tripped unsuspecting victims by pulling or yanking their legs from behind. Once the victim fell, they could be robbed more easily by the thief or an accomplice. Today, the phrase has become harmless. It now means playful teasing, not physical danger. THE LESSON? Not all jokes started as jokes. Some phrases have been softened by time. What once described harm now describes humor. So the next time someone says, “I’m just pulling your leg,” be thankful they are only joking and not working with a foggy London accomplice. (Source: DictionaryScoop)