Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
jerk someone's chain
idiomatic expression
/dʒɜrk ˈsʌmˌwʌnz tʃeɪn/
Definition
To tease, annoy, or frustrate someone, often in a playful manner.
Examples
- Don’t take him seriously; he’s just jerking your chain.
- The way she tells stories sometimes really jerks my chain.
- He was just jerking my chain when he made that outrageous claim.
Meaning
The phrase refers to the act of provoking someone for amusement or to elicit a reaction.
Synonyms
- tease
- mess with
- provoke
- annoy
