IdiomBody & Senses
Welsh
WelshTynnu blewyn o drwyn
Meaning: To provoke or tease someone.
Literally: To pull a hair from the nose
Example: “Paid â thynnu blewyn o drwyn dy frawd cyn y gêm.” — Don't wind your brother up before the game; stop pulling his leg.
English equivalent: To pull someone's leg
Origin: Pulling a hair from someone's nose is a small, sharp provocation that is bound to get a reaction. The phrase means teasing or needling someone on purpose. No particular story lies behind it.
Equivalents in other languages
Spanish: Tomar el pelo Literally: To take someone's hair
German: jemandem einen Bären aufbinden Literally: To tie a bear to someone
English: pull someone's leg
French: Se payer la tête de quelqu'un Literally: To treat oneself to someone's head
Dutch: een loopje nemen Literally: To take a little run with someone
More Welsh idioms
- Codi pais ar ôl piso Fretting over what's already done.
- Rhedeg fel cath i gythraul To run frantically fast.
- Siarad fel pwll y môr To talk endlessly without pause.
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