🗓️ Idiom: Pull a Fast One (v)
💬 Meaning
- To trick or deceive someone, usually for personal gain.
- To do something dishonest that others don’t notice right away.
🧠 Example Sentences
- The accountant tried to pull a fast one by hiding the extra charges.
- They pulled a fast one on the supplier by changing the contract at the last minute.
- Watch out—he’s known for pulling fast ones in negotiations.
🏛️ Origin
This idiom likely began in American slang in the early 1900s. It uses the word “fast” to describe something done quickly and secretly. To “pull a fast one” originally referred to a trick or scam that surprised someone before they could react.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
The company lost a major client after one of the sales reps tried to __________.
Answer
pull a fast one
2. Choose the correct meaning of “pull a fast one”:
A) To work quickly
B) To play a trick or cheat someone
C) To finish a task on time
Answer
B) To play a trick or cheat someone
3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:
“He secretly changed the numbers in the report to fool the manager.” → Change the sentence using: pull a fast one
Answer
He pulled a fast one by changing the numbers in the report.
ℹ️ Other Useful Pages
Rob is a CELTA qualified English teacher with 15 years of international experience. He has a BSc and PGDip from Loughborough and St Andrews universities in the UK. He has taught in Thailand and Saudi Arabia and now works with professionals worldwide.
