Meaning
To tease someone.
Cultural Background
During weddings, the 'Sali' (sister-in-law) often pulls the 'Jamai's' (groom's) leg through various rituals and jokes. It's a rite of passage. In markets like Ahmedabad's Manek Chowk, merchants often pull each other's legs to pass time during slow hours. It shows a lack of cut-throat rivalry. Humorists like Vinod Bhatt have used this concept extensively to describe the 'middle-class' Gujarati life where teasing is a survival mechanism. In villages, 'Choro' (village square) is the hub where elders sit and pull the legs of youngsters to teach them humility and wit.
Smile while saying it
Since it's an idiom for teasing, your body language should reflect that you are joking.
Know your audience
Don't pull the leg of someone who is already having a bad day; it might backfire.
Meaning
To tease someone.
Smile while saying it
Since it's an idiom for teasing, your body language should reflect that you are joking.
Know your audience
Don't pull the leg of someone who is already having a bad day; it might backfire.
Use with 'તો'
Adding 'તો' (to) as in 'હું તો તારો પગ ખેંચતો હતો' makes it sound much more natural and defensive.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'પગ ખેંચવા'.
ગઈકાલે પાર્ટીમાં બધાએ મારો બહુ ______.
The sentence is in the past tense ('ગઈકાલે'), so 'પગ ખેંચ્યો' is the correct masculine singular past form.
Which situation is appropriate for using 'પગ ખેંચવા'?
In which of these scenarios can you say 'હું તારો પગ ખેંચું છું'?
The idiom is for playful, harmless deception among friends.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'તને ખબર છે? કાલે રજા છે!' B: 'સાચે?' A: 'ના રે, હું તો તારો ______.'
'પગ ખેંચું છું' is the standard idiom for revealing a joke.
Match the phrase to the intent.
Match 'પગ ખેંચવા' with its true intent:
The intent is always social bonding and fun.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesગઈકાલે પાર્ટીમાં બધાએ મારો બહુ ______.
The sentence is in the past tense ('ગઈકાલે'), so 'પગ ખેંચ્યો' is the correct masculine singular past form.
In which of these scenarios can you say 'હું તારો પગ ખેંચું છું'?
The idiom is for playful, harmless deception among friends.
A: 'તને ખબર છે? કાલે રજા છે!' B: 'સાચે?' A: 'ના રે, હું તો તારો ______.'
'પગ ખેંચું છું' is the standard idiom for revealing a joke.
Match 'પગ ખેંચવા' with its true intent:
The intent is always social bonding and fun.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it is generally friendly. However, if done excessively or with the wrong person, it can become annoying.
Absolutely not. It is far too informal for written professional communication.
You would say 'હું તારો પગ ખેંચતી હતી' (I was pulling your leg). The 'તારો' stays masculine because it refers to 'પગ'.
'પગ ખેંચવા' is lighthearted and mutual. Bullying is 'હેરાનગતિ' (harassment) and is one-sided and hurtful.
Yes, 'Taang kheenchana' in Hindi is the exact equivalent.
Yes, but you would usually add context so people don't think you're joking. E.g., 'કસરત માટે પગ ખેંચો' (Pull your legs for exercise).
Yes, 'ફિરકી લેવી' (Firki levi) is the popular slang alternative.
It likely comes from the idea of making someone lose their balance/stumble into a joke.
Yes, almost every comedy movie in Gujarati features this phrase.
If your parents are very friendly and 'cool', yes. Otherwise, it's better to be more formal.
Related Phrases
મજાક કરવી
similarTo joke
ખીજવવું
similarTo tease/annoy
ફિરકી લેવી
slangTo tease (literally: to take the spool)
ઉતારી પાડવું
contrastTo humiliate
