Learn how to use the phrase "pull a fast one".
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Episode Script:“Are you trying to pull a fast one on me?”

Welcome to “ESL with Josh” - a podcast that will help you to speak more like a native English speaker. In this episode, we will consider the phrase “pull a fast one” - what does it mean and how do we use it?

“Pull a fast one” is an idiom, which means that this phrase has a meaning unrelated to the words found in it.
”Pull a fast one” does NOT mean to pull on something.
”Pull a fast one” does NOT mean to run fast.

“Pull a fast one” DOES mean to trick or deceive someone.

The origin of this idiom is unclear. Some think it comes from a magician performing card tricks, where they manipulate the cards quickly in order to trick those watching. Or possibly it refers to someone shuffling cards in a manner to deal himself good cards and his opponent bad cards.

Regardless, the idiom “pull a fast one” means to trick or deceive someone. Typically the person being tricked is clear by saying “pull a fast one on someone”.

Here are a few examples:

• Are you trying to pull a fast one on me?
• At the store, I needed to pay $9. After giving the cashier a $20 bill, he tried to pull a fast one by only giving me $1 back and claiming I only gave him a $10 bill.
• Jenny pulled a fast one when she said she had a headache so she could leave school early.
• Everyone believed the rumor until Jack confessed that he had pulled a fast one on us all.

Now it is time to take a quiz.
Which of the following sentences use the idiom correctly?

1. I have a good plan for how to pull a fast one on my friends for April Fools’ Day.
2. I think the people who claim they saw UFOs are trying to pull a fast one on us.
3. I know what the price should be. You can’t push a fast one on me.
4. I lent my friend $15. He pulled a fast one at me and never paid me back.

What do you think?
The correct sentences are numbers 1 and 2.

Now it’s time for the Joke of the DayWhy should you take two pairs of pants to play golf?
You may get a hole in one.

Thanks for listening!

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