Perhaps the expression goes back to an ancient Hebrew story from the Torah. In the book of Genesis, Abraham’s son Isaac has twin sons. The first born was named Esau, which means “red” or “hairy”, and the second was named Jacob, meaning “deceiver”.
So here is the connection. The story of Jacob and Esau’s birth tells of how the twins exited their mothers womb; here it is from Genesis 25:24-26
24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau.[d] 26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob.
Notice the deceiver/supplanter is grasping his brothers heel (or leg) — when you’re pulling someone’s leg (heel), in essence your’re fooling them or deceiving them.
A stretch? Maybe, maybe not. You decide.
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The Origin of the Phrase “Pulling Your Leg” | Viral Dojo:
May 19th, 2014 at 4:20 pm
[…] Pulling My Leg […]
Daniel Burgos:
August 27th, 2020 at 3:34 am
Perhaps the expression goes back to an ancient Hebrew story from the Torah. In the book of Genesis, Abraham’s son Isaac has twin sons. The first born was named Esau, which means “red” or “hairy”, and the second was named Jacob, meaning “deceiver”.
So here is the connection. The story of Jacob and Esau’s birth tells of how the twins exited their mothers womb; here it is from Genesis 25:24-26
24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau.[d] 26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob.
Notice the deceiver/supplanter is grasping his brothers heel (or leg) — when you’re pulling someone’s leg (heel), in essence your’re fooling them or deceiving them.
A stretch? Maybe, maybe not. You decide.