pull out of one’s ass: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘pull out of one's ass’ mean?
An offensive idiom meaning to create something or provide information without any evidence or basis. Often used to criticize someone for making things up or speaking without knowledge.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "trump up" means to fabricate or invent false information or charges, often with the intention of deceiving others or gaining an advantage. It implies the creation of a false story or evidence in order to support a particular claim or accusation.
Meaning: To say or do something embarrassing, foolish or inappropriate inadvertently.
The idiom "put one over" means to deceive or trick someone in a clever or sneaky way.
The idiom "put forward" means to propose or suggest something for consideration or discussion. It is often used when presenting an idea, argument, or opinion in a formal setting or during a meeting.
The idiom "put facts on the ground" means to establish or provide concrete evidence or proof to support one's statements or claims.
The idiom "pull the wool over someone's eyes" means to deceive or trick someone, usually by intentionally hiding the truth or misleading them in some way.
The idiom "pull someone's leg" means to play a practical joke or tease someone in a light-hearted way, often by making them believe something that is not true.
An idiom meaning to improvise or make up something without any basis or evidence.
The idiom "pull a fast one" means to deceive or trick someone in a clever or sneaky way.
The idiom "pound sand" means to engage in a futile or pointless activity, often used as an expression of dismissal or irritation towards someone.
Unexpected Origins
Idiom: pull out of one's arse
This idiom, similar to "pull out of one's ass," is a colloquial phrase commonly used in informal English. It is considered vulgar and is not appropriate for formal or professional settings.
Meaning: When someone says that someone else pulled something out of their arse, they are suggesting that the action or statement made by that person is completely fabricated or made up. It implies that the person is presenting something without any factual basis or prior knowledge.
Origin: The origin of this idiom is not well-documented. However, it is believed to have emerged as a metaphorical way of describing the act of improvising or fabricating something on the spot. The use of the word "arse" in this idiom emphasizes the idea of something being pulled out hastily or crudely.
Usage: The idiom "pull out of one's arse" is used figuratively to express skepticism or criticism toward someone's unconvincing or unsupported claims or actions. It is often used to highlight the lack of credibility or legitimacy behind a person's statements or decisions.
Idiom: trump up
The idiom "trump up" is similar in meaning to "pull out of one's ass." It refers to the act of inventing, fabricating, or exaggerating something, especially in a deceitful or false manner.
Usage: When someone "trumps up" a story, accusation, or excuse, they are essentially creating it out of thin air. This idiom suggests that the person is constructing a false narrative or making unsupported claims.
Idiom: out of thin air
The idiom "out of thin air" has a similar meaning to "pull out of one's ass." It describes the act of conjuring or creating something from nothing, without any factual basis or evidence.
Usage: When someone "pulls something out of thin air," they are presenting information or making a statement without any logical or factual support. It implies that what they are saying is completely fabricated or imagined.
Idiom: pad out
The phrase "pad out" is relevant to the concept of pulling something out of one's ass. It means to add unnecessary or excessive details, information, or content to make something appear longer, more substantial, or more credible than it actually is.
Usage: When someone "pads out" an article, report, or presentation, they are essentially filling it with irrelevant or frivolous material, often to make it seem more legitimate or reliable. This idiom suggests that the person is trying to compensate for a lack of substance or substance.
Idiom: play the fool
The idiom "play the fool" is similar to "pulling something out of one's ass" in the sense that it involves deception or pretending.
Usage: When someone "plays the fool," they are intentionally acting foolish, silly, or ignorant to deceive or divert attention. This idiom suggests that the person is pretending not to know or understand something in order to manipulate or mislead others.
As with any idiom, the meaning and usage of these expressions may vary depending on the context and the individuals involved in the conversation. It is important to consider the appropriateness and potential offensiveness of using vulgarity or slang in different settings. Nevertheless, these idioms continue to be widely used in informal conversations, highlighting the association of fabrication, deception, and improvisation.
Example usage
Examples:
- He had no evidence to support his claims, so it seemed like he was just pulling them out of his ass.
- She came up with a brilliant idea out of nowhere; it seemed like she had pulled it out of her ass.
- The professor's explanation was so unintelligible; it felt like he was just pulling it out of his ass.
The idiom "pull out of one's ass" is used to describe the act of making something up or inventing it without any factual basis or evidence. It implies that the information or idea comes from a place of pure imagination or deception. The idiom can be employed in various contexts to express skepticism, disbelief, or a lack of trust in the validity of someone's assertions.
In the given examples, the idiom is used figuratively to emphasize the lack of credibility or substance in what someone is saying. In the first example, the person is making baseless claims that have no supporting evidence. In the second example, someone suddenly presents a brilliant idea without any prior indication or reasoning, which suggests it was conjured up without any valid foundation. In the third example, the professor's explanation is incomprehensible and seems to be constructed on the spot, indicating a lack of genuine understanding or knowledge on the topic.
More "Vulgar" idioms
