English Language & Usage Asked on March 2, 2021
What is leg and bells mean in the phrase “pull the other one, it’s got bells on”
"Pulling one's leg" is an idiom which means teasing, or joking with someone, specifically by telling them something that is not true. You might reveal to someone that you were kidding about something by saying "I was only pulling your leg".
The phrase "pull the other one, it's got bells on" is said by people when they recognise that someone is joking with them. The inference is that they should pull the other leg, because it has bells attached to it and will make a jangling sound.
The origins of "pulling one's leg" are unconfirmed and there are a number of possible origin stories but according to the cited article it appeared in print at least as early as 1883.
The idea of a leg having bells attached is a reference to either Morris Dancing, or more likely medieval jesters, who attach bells to their ankles as part of their act.
Answered by Astralbee on March 2, 2021
I'm pretty sure this phrase has a Biblical origin. In Genesis, Jacob and Esau were born twin brothers. Esau was the first born, but Jacob came close behind grabbing Esau by the heel. The Bible states, "And so they called him Jacob which means 'He grabs the heel' or literally 'He deceives'." It must have had a double meaning in their language. Jacob did live up to the name by later deceiving their father Isaac to steal the birthright from Esau. With the influence Christianity has had on western nations, I think people were familiar with this story and used this phrase to indicated someone's deception.
Answered by Todd E. Johnson on March 2, 2021
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