yank someone's chain

Definitions

1. To tease someone; to lead someone on; to goad someone into overreacting.
   idiomatic, informal
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see yank, chain.

Examples

“Near-synonyms: poke, prod”

“So, be careful what you are paying attention to. If it looks like⟳ someone is yanking your chain, he or she probably is.”

““For the same reason⟳ you were yanking my chain about the double⟳ ropes,” I said. “You want⟳ to see⟳ if I'm going to be any help⟳ to you or a total idiot when it comes to this retail thing.””

“It was so easy to yank his chain, Tiree smirked to herself, as she dialled Les's London flat.”

CEFR level