English Idiom – Pull a fast one.
Meaning – To engage in a deceitful practice or play an unfair trick. This expression refers to deceiving or tricking someone in a clever or unexpected way. It implies that the person who has been deceived has been caught off guard and is now at a disadvantage.
The term fast one refers to a sudden or unexpected move, often used in a game or sport, that catches an opponent off guard.
Idioms Related To Dishonesty or Deceit:
- Caught red-handed – To be caught in the act. To be found doing something wrong or illegal.
- Loan shark – Someone who lends people money and charges them an extremely high rate of interest.
- Smell a rat – To suspect that something is wrong or that something dishonest is happening.
- Smell fishy– Suspicious. This idiom is used when something is making us suspicious or when we believe somebody is being dishonest.
- Swim with sharks – To operate among dangerous or risky people.
Usage:
When could you use this idiom?
- You suspect that someone is trying to deceive or trick you.
- When you notice someone is suddenly changing the rules or conditions of a deal or agreement.
- You are in a situation when you catch someone in the act of doing something dishonest or sneaky.
- Someone tries to take advantage of you by offering something that seems too good to be true.
Example:
- “I thought the salesman was being honest with me, but it turns out he was trying to pull a fast one and charge me twice the price.”
In the News
Spotted in the newsThe Fed Is Trying to Pull a Fast Onein.investing.comWhat is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
To trick or deceive someone.
Often as a warning: “Don’t try to pull a fast one on me!”
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