Tomar el pelo

to pull someone's leg; to tease someone;; to joke with someone;; to kid someone (informal);; to mess with someone (informal, depending on context).

Tomar el pelo means to tease someone, make fun of them in a playful way or deliberately make them believe something that is not true for amusement rather than malice.

The expression covers a wide range of situations. Friends may tomarse el pelo by telling harmless jokes. Family members often use it affectionately to laugh at one another. Colleagues may exaggerate a story simply to see another person's reaction.

Unlike expressions referring to fraud or serious deception, tomar el pelo almost always implies humour. The intention is not to harm but to amuse, even if the person being teased does not immediately appreciate the joke.

For that reason, the idiom is extremely common in informal conversation and reflects one of the most characteristic features of Spanish social interaction: friendly teasing among people who know each other well.

Nevertheless, context matters. If the joke goes too far or becomes humiliating, Spaniards would normally choose stronger expressions such as burlarse de alguien.

• tells a harmless lie as a joke
• plays a practical joke
• exaggerates something for comic effect
• gently teases a friend
• pretends something unbelievable is true

It emerged from ordinary usage, where an expressive image mattered more than any pedigree.

It emerged from ordinary usage, where an expressive image mattered more than any pedigree. One possibility links the expression to old practical jokes involving wigs or hairstyles. Another suggests that "taking someone's hair" symbolised treating a person with little respect.

Whatever its historical origin, modern speakers no longer associate the idiom with its literal image. The figurative meaning has completely replaced the original one.

Playful teasing forms an important part of everyday interaction in Spain.

Among friends, joking at one another's expense often signals trust rather than hostility. In fact, if close friends never joke with each other, the relationship may seem unusually formal.

However, Spanish speakers are also aware that humour has limits. When teasing becomes repetitive, cruel or humiliating, it is no longer described as tomar el pelo but as burlarse or reírse de alguien.

Understanding this distinction is an important aspect of Spanish social culture.

English and Spanish both associate joking with surprising physical images.

English speakers pull someone's leg.

Spaniards take someone's hair.

Neither expression makes literal sense today, yet both are understood instantly by native speakers.

Do not translate tomar el pelo literally.

English speakers never say "to take someone's hair".

Instead, use to pull someone's leg whenever the intention is humorous.

Also remember that tomar el pelo generally implies friendliness. If the intention is to deceive for financial gain or personal advantage, Spaniards would use verbs such as engañar, not tomar el pelo.