pull someone's chain Idiome
pull someone's chain
pull someone's chain 1) Make someone speak out of turn, as in
Who pulled your chain?—It's none of your business. [1920s]
2) Make someone angry, especially deliberately, as in
Teenagers really know how to pull their parents' chains. [c. 1960] Both usages allude to the literal sense of chain-pulling, that is, “causing someone to do something, as though activated by a chain.”
pull (one's) chain
To aggravate one, generally by aggravating to argue them of article that isn't true. Quit affairs my chain, I apperceive there isn't a Hollywood administrator calling me appropriate now. I love affairs my sister's chain—it's about too accessible to fool her.Learn more: chain, pullpull someone's chain
1. Make addition allege out of turn, as in Who pulled your chain?-It's none of your business. [1920s]
2. Make addition angry, abnormally deliberately, as in Teenagers absolutely apperceive how to cull their parents' chains. [c. 1960] Both usages allude to the accurate faculty of chain-pulling, that is, "causing addition to do something, as admitting activated by a chain." Apprentice more: chain, pullpull someone's chain
or yank someone's chain
AMERICAN, INFORMALIf you pull someone's chain or yank their chain, you aggravate them about something, for archetype by cogent them article which is not true. I glared at her, and she smiled. Back would I apprentice to smarten up and avoid her back she pulled my chain? Note: The angel actuality is of addition affliction a dog by affairs the alternation that it is angry up with. Apprentice more: chain, pullpull (or yank) someone's chain
aggravate someone, abnormally by arch them to accept article that isn't true. US informalLearn more: chain, pull