# British slang question: "Pull the other one" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 19, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-slang-question-pull-the-other-one/230097 "2004-02-19T23:47:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Thrillhouse15](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ad7895/32.png) [@Thrillhouse15](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thrillhouse15)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-slang-question-pull-the-other-one/230097/1 "2004-02-19T23:47:40Z")
I may already know the answer to this, but I wanted to ask to be sure. What is the meaning of the phrase “Pull the other one” as in the following exchange from Monty Python’s Search for the Holy Grail: ARTHUR: It is I, Arthur, son of Uther Pendragon, from the castle of Camelot. King of the Britons, defeater of the Saxons, Sovereign of all England! SOLDIER #1: Pull the other one! ARTHUR: I am,… and this is my trusty servant Patsy. I’m thinking it’s related to the phrase “you’re pulling my leg” but I’m not certain. Help? ---
**Author:** ![Jake4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bc8723/32.png) [@Jake4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake4)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-slang-question-pull-the-other-one/230097/2 "2004-02-19T23:56:58Z")
I always used to think it was a reference to that type of toy where you pull the string out of its back and have it play a recorded message, e.g., “You’re my best friend!” King Arthur’s declaration sounds like a prerecorded message. I’m not British and that’s just my WAG, you could be right. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-slang-question-pull-the-other-one/230097/3 "2004-02-20T00:08:46Z")
> [@Thrillhouse15](#): > > I’m thinking it’s related to the phrase “you’re pulling my leg” but I’m not certain. Whether it’s actually _related_ I don’t know, and it seems nobody knows, but it certainly means the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-slang-question-pull-the-other-one/230097/4 "2004-02-20T00:09:59Z")
The phrase refers to a jester’s costume. When someone says, “pull the other one,” the rest of the phrase is, “it’s got bells on it.” The bells were located on the legs, so when the jester pranced around, the bells could be heard by one and all. The connotation is you’re obviously telling me a joke, or a tall tale, so to get the full effect pull the other leg and listen for the bells. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-slang-question-pull-the-other-one/230097/5 "2004-02-20T00:11:21Z")
It’s a reference to “pulling your leg”. Which means to sucker someone in with a joke at their expense. Saying “pull the other one” indicates that you think you’re being taken for a ride. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-slang-question-pull-the-other-one/230097/6 "2004-02-20T00:32:20Z")
I concur with the esteemed…uh, Death Ray. If someone is pulling your leg, tell them to pull the other one. As added incentive, you might tell them it has bells on it. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-slang-question-pull-the-other-one/230097/7 "2004-02-20T01:01:14Z")
A different Brit phrase (also from Holy Grail) which I’ve never quite understood is when Connie Booth is found guilty of being a witch she says, **“It’s a fair cop”**. I’ve heard it in another MP sketch right when a character is being taken away by the police. What the heck does it mean?! ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-slang-question-pull-the-other-one/230097/8 "2004-02-20T01:17:14Z")
A phrase supposedly uttered by cockney criminals upon arrest. But only in bad thrillers or parodies. Fair = correct, cop=capture. Meaning: You got me, I’m guilty. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-slang-question-pull-the-other-one/230097/9 "2004-02-20T01:42:56Z")
And the full version, in glorious stereotype, is: “It’s a fair cop. You’ve got me bang to rights.” ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-slang-question-pull-the-other-one/230097/10 "2004-02-20T03:12:15Z")
Just read some Terry Pratchett. In it, Gaspode the talking Wonder Dog says “pull _one of_ the other ones.” Definitely the leg, sort of a metaphorical wossname, that is. ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-slang-question-pull-the-other-one/230097/11 "2004-02-20T03:40:20Z")
Eddie: “Oh pull the other one Filthy, it’s got balls on!” Richie: “Bells, Eddie…‘bells on’.” Eddie: “Mine’s got balls on, mate. If your’s has got bells on, I suggest you seek a doctor out immediately.” - Filthy, Rich & Catflap ---
**Author:** ![Motog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@Motog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motog)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-slang-question-pull-the-other-one/230097/12 "2004-02-20T05:54:06Z")
Here’s the [World Wide Words](http://www.quinion.com/words/qa/qa-cop2.htm) view on the derivation of “cop” “Pull the other one” has me intrigued. I’ll see what I can find out. Not meaning to be rude but the court jester etymology given above sounds pretty unlikely ---
**Author:** ![Motog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@Motog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motog)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-slang-question-pull-the-other-one/230097/13 "2004-02-20T05:57:13Z")
Should have just looked a bit further. [World Wide Words](http://www.quinion.com/words/qa/qa-pul2.htm) etymology for “pulling one’s leg”. The leap from “your pulling my leg” to “pull the other one” is pretty likely.