Pull a fast one

[Elisa70]

Hi,
May someone explain to me the meaning of the expression "pull a fast one"?

 

[RichardG16]

For me sitting in London, UK "to pull a fast one" is when a person deceives / steals from somebody else - often this is in the situation where money is paid up front for a service or goods and the person paid does not return with the goods or performs the service.

"We gave cash to the builder as a deposit, and he pulled a fast one" - meaning "we gave money to the builder, but he did not return"



Not a teacher

 

[BobK]

'Take an unfair advantage.' Isn't it in some online reference resource? (It's not in the UE list of idioms.)

Also 'pull a flanker' (not unfair, just unexpected - I assume it's a reference to a 'flank forward' in rugby).

b

 

[lotus888]

We often complete the phrase with "on me" or "on him".

He pulled a fast one on me.
I pulled a fast one on him.



--lotus

 

[Roman55]

I am not a teacher.

It just means to trick someone (in a dishonest way as opposed to for fun).