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yank someone's chain. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
yank someone's chain, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
yank someone's chain in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Alternative forms
Pronunciation
Verb
yank someone's chain (third-person singular simple present yanks someone's chain, present participle yanking someone's chain, simple past and past participle yanked someone's chain)
- (idiomatic, informal) To tease someone; to lead someone on; to goad someone into overreacting.
- Near-synonyms: poke, prod
- Coordinate term: get someone's goat
2006, James A. McKenna, Beyond Bluffs: Master the Mysteries of Poker, →ISBN, page 198:So, be careful what you are paying attention to. If it looks like someone is yanking your chain, he or she probably is.
2008, Tom Morrisey, In High Places, →ISBN, page 198:“For the same reason you were yanking my chain about the double ropes,” I said. “You want to see if I'm going to be any help to you or a total idiot when it comes to this retail thing.”
2012, Alison Fraser, His Mistress's Secret, →ISBN:It was so easy to yank his chain, Tiree smirked to herself, as she dialled Les's London flat.
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see yank, chain.