You're joking with me or trying to deceive me in a playful way. An expression of disbelief at something that seems untrue or exaggerated.
Dating to the 1880s, this phrase likely originated from the practice of street thieves who would literally pull someone's leg to trip them before robbing them. The meaning shifted from physical trickery to verbal teasing and harmless deception.
What's delightful is how this phrase transformed from describing actual criminal activity to friendly banter. It shows how language can completely flip the emotional weight of an expression while keeping its core metaphor of 'tripping someone up' intact.
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