Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
yank someone's chain
idiom
/jæŋk ˈsʌmˌwʌnz tʃeɪn/
Definition
To tease or joke with someone in a playful manner.
Examples
- He was just yanking your chain when he said he would quit his job.
- Don’t take him seriously; he’s only yanking your chain.
- She loves to yank my chain about my old car.
Meaning
This phrase implies that someone is being playfully tricked or amused, often by making them believe something that isn’t true.
Synonyms
- tease
- pull someone’s leg
- joke around
