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Glite Dictionary
to pull a fast one

to pull a fast one

12 8.3
To trick someone in a clever way so they do not notice
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : hacer una jugarreta
  • After seeing his clever trick, I realized he managed to pull a fast one on all of us.
  • trying to pull a fast one
  • think you can pull a fast one
  • just pulled a fast one

You know, audiences are so smart, and you can't pull a fast one.

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Examples

  • Are you trying to pull a fast one on me?

    High Sierra (1941)

  • Romney may be trying to pull a fast one here.

    Blog text (31)

  • You know, you just totally pulled a fast one on me.

    Solid State (2012)

  • But be careful, he might pull a fast one on you and just come over.

    Two Can Play That Game (2001)

  • You may think that you have pulled a fast one on me, but I am on to you.

    A.R.C.H.I.E. (2016)

  • Try to pull a fast one, and the internet will find you out.

    Blog text (14)

  • Well, seems old Hank had pulled a fast one.

    Me, Myself & Irene (2000)

  • It's symbolic of how people can pull a fast one on others.

    Blog text (17)

  • How do we know that you're not trying to pull a fast one over us?

    Santa Stole Our Dog: A Merry Doggone Christmas! (2017)

  • The community school activist accuses the school system of pulling a fast one.

    Blog text (3)

Synonyms

to trick
vsto pull a fast one
326 3.5

To make someone believe something false so you can get what you want

is more narrowly about a single clever or sly successful deception
to bamboozle
vsto pull a fast one
  • Informal
11 8.3

To trick someone by pretending you want to help them

is similar but usually describes a single clever or sly act
to outwit
vsto pull a fast one
11 4.7

To beat someone by being more clever than them

focuses specifically on a sly, successful act of deception rather than outsmarting generally
to pull the wool over someone's eyes
vsto pull a fast one
  • Informal
7 8.2

To trick someone by hiding the truth

is quicker and more about a single clever, sly success than prolonged hiding
to play a trick on
vsto pull a fast one
6 2.8

To fool someone as a joke

is similar but usually implies a clever, sly act done for advantage
to pull a fast one on
vsto pull a fast one
  • Informal
5 8.1

To trick someone to gain an advantage

focuses more on the successful, clever trick rather than broader deceit
to put one over
vsto pull a fast one
  • Informal
4 7.8

To make someone believe something that is not true

is the same action but highlights sly cleverness rather than general deceit
to flim-flam
vsto pull a fast one
  • Archaic
1 9.5

To trick someone by using clever talk

is similar but stresses a single clever, sly successful trick rather than speech
to play false
vsto pull a fast one
1 8.1

To trick someone who trusts you by hiding your real plans to get something for yourself

is more about a clever, cunning one-off trick than hidden long motives
to con someone
vsto pull a fast one
  • Slang
7.7

To trick someone to get their money

covers similar clever deception but not only for personal financial gain
to play like a violin
vsto pull a fast one
  • Informal
9.0

To trick someone easily so you can get what you want

is about a single clever deceptive act rather than ongoing manipulation
to do someone a lemon
vsto pull a fast one
  • UK
9.9

Trick someone so they end up worse off

is more about a clever, sly success rather than primarily causing disadvantage

Antonyms

to tell the truth
814 2.7

Say what really happened without hiding facts or lying

How Deceptive

to defraud
  • Formal
40 6.9
scam
  • NSFW
294 3.0
con
  • Informal
107 7.2
to pull a fast one
  • Informal
12 8.3

Surface Forms

pull a fast one infinitive
pulled a fast one past
pulled a fast one past participle
pulling a fast one present participle
pulls a fast one third person singular

Morphology

pull + a + fast + one

The meaning 'to deceive someone' is not directly derived from the literal parts: 'pull' (to tug), 'fast' (quick) and 'one' (a single thing), although 'pull' can extend to 'carry out' and 'a fast one' can be interpreted as 'a quick trick'. The relation is metaphorical and idiomatic enough that a B1 learner who knows the constituents would not reliably infer the deception sense without prior exposure, so the expression is partially but not fully transparent.

Etymology

Pull a fast one may come from the image of a cheat who quickly pulls a card or object away in a secret, very fast move so other people are fooled. That's why it means 'to trick someone successfully'.