Leg Pull

Bede may or may not have been right about this facet of Pictish political organisation, but unless his account is an elaborate leg-pull, it was believed when he wrote the Ecclesiastical History in 731 AD. ❋ Carla (2007)

I've been told that senses are sometimes given to concepts at Oxford after the gates close to visitors; but that may be a leg-pull. ❋ Chris (2004)

Afterwards we see the funny side of it and their mishap becomes a standing joke; both have to put up with many a leg-pull. ❋ Rudel, Hans-Ulrich (1973)

They had set out to have a jolly good leg-pull and I will tell you what happened. ❋ Unknown (1943)

An old leg-pull, to make new boys think that his name was really Chips; the joke was almost traditional. ❋ Hilton, James, 1900-1954 (1938)

An old joke — an old leg-pull, and he, of all people, having made so many old jokes in his time, ought not to complain. ❋ Hilton, James, 1900-1954 (1938)

The Australian has a habit of pulling his mate's leg, and being on his guard against a leg-pull in return. ❋ Unknown (1923)

It was probably a "leg-pull," or somebody practising his English; but as there was a 1000 to 1 chance of its being sent by some sympathiser in our front, and of the projected ❋ Edward Gleichen (1900)

His birthday fell on 1 April and in those homespun times April Fool's Day provided passing annual merriment of schoolboy spoof and larks and leg-pull, during which Foufou was bonnily yo-yoed about after breakfast in a blanket in the bootroom. ❋ Frank Keating (2010)

That Facebook program started as "a leg-pull intended to puzzle men" but morphed into a good cause, raising awareness for breast cancer. ❋ [email protected] (2010)

The 86 of the restaurant code of the 1930s (which could have slipped into the papers as a leg-pull perpetrated on an unwary journalist) never seemed to be reflected in anything other than newspaper articles touting the code itself. ❋ Unknown (2009)

“Do you mean you think it’s real?” he asked cautiously, unsure whether he had a madwoman in the car beside him or if I was launched on some elaborate Holmesian leg-pull. ❋ King, Laurie R. (1996)

“He’s not so dopey,” Alleyn said strongly, “that he can’t plan an extremely cunning leg-pull on his papa, his four brothers, Simon Begg, Dr. Otterly and Ralph Stayne. ❋ Marsh, Ngaio, 1895-1982 (1956)

But she’s much too lovely, of course, to be a leg-pull.” ❋ Marsh, Ngaio, 1895-1982 (1935)

Lecturer and some others were of the opinion that the whole thesis of the address was a gigantic leg-pull. " ❋ Maisie Ward (1932)