English grammar
Idioms of trickery
Say that someone is trying to trick you, with everyday idioms.
From the scene Something fishy
In short
Idioms of trickery: something fishy, con someone, empty promises, pull someone's leg, pull the other one!
Your turn
Which one goes with con someone (trick them)?
Options: they're trying to con us · something fishy's going on here · that man sells empty promises
Show answer
con someone (trick them) → they're trying to con us
How it works
Something fishy is going on means something suspicious is happening.
Good to know
To con someone is to trick them, usually out of money. Sell empty promises means to promise things you'll never deliver.
Good to know
Pull someone's leg means to tease them with a joke; pull the other one! means 'I don't believe a word of it'.
something fishy is going on something fishy's going on here
Elena
What lovely photos... Something fishy's going on here.
Qué fotos tan bonitas... Aquí hay gato encerrado.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
What lovely photos... (blank).
Options: That man sells empty promises · Something fishy's going on here · They're trying to con us
Show answer
Elena
What lovely photos... Something fishy's going on here.
Qué fotos tan bonitas... Aquí hay gato encerrado.
con someone (trick them) they're trying to con us
Nuria
They're trying to con us!
¡Nos quieren dar gato por liebre!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank)!
Options: That man sells empty promises · They're trying to con us · Something fishy's going on here
Show answer
Nuria
They're trying to con us!
¡Nos quieren dar gato por liebre!
sell empty promises that man sells empty promises
Tomás
That man sells empty promises. Lots of photos, not much building.
Ese señor vende humo. Mucha foto y poco edificio.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank). Lots of photos, not much building.
Options: Something fishy's going on here · They're trying to con us · That man sells empty promises
Show answer
Tomás
That man sells empty promises. Lots of photos, not much building.
Ese señor vende humo. Mucha foto y poco edificio.
pull someone's leg (tease) he's pulling our leg
Nuria
Six months? He's pulling our leg.
¿Seis meses? Nos está tomando el pelo.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Six months? (blank).
Options: Something fishy's going on here · They're trying to con us · He's pulling our leg
Show answer
Nuria
Six months? He's pulling our leg.
¿Seis meses? Nos está tomando el pelo.
pull the other one! (I don't believe you) pull the other one!
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| something fishy is going on | something fishy's going on here |
|---|---|
| con someone (trick them) | they're trying to con us |
| sell empty promises | that man sells empty promises |
| pull someone's leg (tease) | he's pulling our leg |
| pull the other one! (I don't believe you) | pull the other one! |
More lines from the story
- ElenaThat building isn't ours. It's one in Barcelona.Ese edificio no es el nuestro. Es uno de Barcelona.
- ElenaRelax. Nobody cons me. I've been shopping at the market for seventy years.Tranquilos. A mí nadie me da gato por liebre. Llevo setenta años comprando en el mercado.