Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

pull-the-other-one-its-got-bells-on

idiom

/pʊl ði ˈʌðər wʌn ɪts gɒt bɛlz ɒn/

Definition

A humorous phrase used to indicate disbelief or skepticism, often in response to something that sounds unbelievable or too good to be true.

Examples

When John claimed he could run a marathon without training, Lisa just laughed and said, ‘Pull the other one, it’s got bells on.’
After hearing the tall tale about winning the lottery twice, Mark replied, ‘Oh, come on! Pull the other one, it’s got bells on.’

Meaning

This phrase suggests that the speaker finds the statement made by another person to be so improbable that they are jokingly asking for an alternative explanation.