1. Are you kidding?
2. Are you kidding me?
3. Are you pulling my leg?
4. Are you teasing?
5. Are you teasing me?
---------------------------
Are they all grammatical and the same in meaning? Can we use 'legs' in #3? Where can I get to know the origin of 'pull one's leg' in a simple version?
I answered most of this yesterday, didn't I? ¯\_(?)_/¯
http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/9/messages/906.html
1. "Are you kidding?" - This is a question used to ask if someone is joking or not being serious. It can be used in various contexts and does not necessarily imply that you are personally being targeted with the joke.
2. "Are you kidding me?" - This question has a similar meaning to the first one but adds a sense of surprise, frustration, or disbelief. It is often used when the speaker feels that someone has said or done something unbelievable or unreasonable.
3. "Are you pulling my leg?" - This is an idiom used to inquire if someone is joking or teasing you. It implies that someone is trying to deceive or trick you in a light-hearted or playful manner. It is equivalent to asking if someone is joking but with a slightly more humorous tone.
4. "Are you teasing?" - This question is a straightforward inquiry into whether someone is deliberately trying to provoke or annoy you. It doesn't usually carry the same playful connotation as "pulling my leg."
5. "Are you teasing me?" - This phrase is similar to the previous one, but it specifies that you suspect the person is teasing specifically directed toward you. It suggests that you feel the person is purposely trying to provoke or make fun of you.
Regarding the use of "legs" in #3, the idiomatic phrase "pull one's leg" is a fixed expression, and it is conventionally used with the possessive pronoun "my." So saying "Are you pulling my legs?" would not be common English usage.
To learn more about the origin of the phrase "pull one's leg" in a simplified version, you can do an internet search for "origin of the idiom pull one's leg" or consult reputable dictionaries or language websites that provide explanations of idioms. These sources often offer concise explanations that are easy to understand, making it simpler for you to comprehend the origin of the phrase.