tomar el pelo(
toh
-
mahr
ehl
peh
-
loh
)A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g. Take out the trash.).
transitive verb phrase
1. (to poke fun at)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g. skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g. carrot, bean).
(figurative)
a. to pull someone's leg
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g. skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g. carrot, bean).
(figurative)
No le hagas caso a tu padre, te está tomando el pelo. Claro que te compramos la bici como te prometimos.Don't listen to your father; he's pulling your leg. Of course we'll buy you the bike like we promised.
b. to joke
Nos dijeron que su equipo ganó una vez al Barça, pero yo creo que nos estaban tomando el pelo.They told us their team beat Barça once, but I think they were only joking.
c. to tease
Deja de tomarme el pelo y dime si el vestido me queda bien o no de verdad.Stop teasing me and tell me if the dress really suits me or doesn't.
2. (to swindle)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g. skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
a. to rip off
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g. skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
¿Nueve euros por una cerveza? Os tomaron descaradamente el pelo.Nine euros for a beer? They have shamelessly ripped you off.
tomarse el pelo
A pronominal verb phrase combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g. Se dio cuenta del problema.)
pronominal verb phrase
3. (to poke fun at each other)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g. skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
a. to pull each other's leg
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g. skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Los dos hermanos andan siempre tomándose el pelo. Es su forma de relacionarse.The two brothers are always pulling each other's leg. It's their way of relating to each other.
Word Roots
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Examples
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