Meaning of pull a fast one | Babel Free

Definitions

To carry out a trick or act of deception; to behave contrary to expectations.

idiomatic, often, slang

Equivalents

Examples

“This isn't worth anything like⟳ what you paid them. I think⟳ they pulled a fast one on you.”

“I haven't forgotten the way you tried to pull⟳ a fast one over me when you first came here—over the Jaintiapur plantation that I had wanted for some time.”

“President Bush today made his most aggressive assault yet on Gov. Bill Clinton, asserting that the Democratic nominee would "pull⟳ a fast one on the American people" and raise⟳ taxes by hundreds of billions of dollars.”

“The man known as Chainsaw Al pulled a fast one last⟳ week, buying three companies when everyone assumed he would be selling his own⟳.”

“7. Claimants are pulling a fast one. No. Less than 1% of the welfare budget is lost to fraud.”

“But then came Jan. 6, when I watched my Ivy League-educated senator, Ted Cruz, try⟳ to pull⟳ yet another fast one on the American people as he fought — not long before the certification process⟳ was disrupted by a mob of Trump supporters storming the Capitol and forcing their way into the Senate chamber — to challenge⟳ the election results.”

“The chap opposite seems to be trying to pull⟳ a fast one, and having seen the guard is trying to buy⟳ a ticket online... but doesn't succeed⟳. The guard helpfully sells him one, but not quite at the price of one purchased in advance. In fairness he doesn't kick⟳ off, nor does the guard treat⟳ him like⟳ some common criminal. It's a fair cop - or should that be a fare cop?”

CEFR level