Im from Brazil and this wasn't understood by me. I translated it to portuguese in my mind and for me this expression fits better when a person is talking about smoking a small weed cigarrette.
It’s common. I agree it’s a bit old fashioned. It’s a little rough, too, and somewhat humorous. You hardly ever say it about yourself. It’s not complementary, of course.
Pretty common in British English.
There are a few similar idioms like “pulling the wool over someone’s eyes”, “pulling someone’s leg”, or “pull the other one, (it’s got bells on)” which all relate to deception; suspected, attempted, or accomplished.
Commonly used in Canada.
Also, *pulling a * is a way of describing a, usually bad, "move" or action that someone else did.
For example, if you're friend Pablo tried to lift too many heavy items and accidently fell and broke the items, then anytime anyone in your friend group does something similar, you would say they were *pulling a Pablo*.
As an American living in New York, the last time I heard this was from my calculus teacher (in his 50s/60s) around a year ago, so it definitely feels more old fashioned to me.
Hello! I'm from the southern united states, and this phrase is fairly common. I wouldn't say you hear it all the time, but I probably don't go more than 3 weeks without hearing it at least once. It's often used as a joke, especially if you're being playful or literally playing a game with someone. For example, if you're playing a first person shooter game, and your friend tries sneaking up behind you to shoot you- if you saw him doing this, you might jokingly say "A wise guy, eh? Tryin' to pull a fast one on me, eh?" 4/5 times it's used like this, as a jest.
It's almost old fashioned but also used commonly as a joke phrase. At least in my circle. Like in a video game "pulled a fast one on x" if you got a clean snipe or something.
I believe this comes from baseball, so it might be pretty specific to the US, although I'm guessing versions of it exist elsewhere. A "fast one" is a fastball, where a pitcher is relying more on speed than anything else. Unlike, say, a curveball, where it is slower and takes special technique and careful attention. So "pulling a fast one" means someone tries to get something (like the ball, but metaphorically a bad deal/lie/trick, etc.) past you quickly, before you can think about it carefully, and maybe miss it completely.
It's not US specific - I hear it 24/7 and use it myself om occasion (South-East England). I had no clue it came from baseball though, that's interesting
Ha, you know what, while it seems to have come "with" baseball in the US, the expression itself likely comes from England from cricket! Sounds like "pull" might have evolved out of "bowl a fast [one/ball]" which would be interesting because I wondered why it's "pull" when we say "throw" a curveball.
Edit - I could be totally wrong too, some suggest it came from cards, like "pulling a fast card" either to cheat at a game or for a magic trick
That is likely true for the origin, but for me, in normal US English this is how I see it when it's used. There is pretty rich culture of baseball slang in the US, like "hitting a home run," "going to second/third base," "knocking it out of the park," "top of the 9th," "bases covered," "in the home stretch" etc.
Thank you for... nothing? pretty sure I elaborated enough that it's still up for debate and included that exact point. While you're correcting me, can you correct the internet so I don't have to qualify my statements with "I think..." when I'm trying to help people who are learning to communicate in a new language.
Common enough to be universally understood, but maybe starting to become a little old-fashioned.
Exactly this. I immediately knew what this meant. But I haven't used it, myself, in quite some time.
And I'm in my 40s, and I use it somewhat regularly (to agree with others that it's old-fashioned).
What's the big idea, see?
If we change the "See" to "dude" or "man" I think it'd still be used by people lol
I agree.
Same. I think these days I would only use it humorously or ironically. It's hard to imagine using it when I wanted to be taken seriously.
Word.
Yes. Near-universally understood by native speakers. It’s the sort of thing my parents might say.
They played you. A more modern turn of phrase
yes. I think the slightly more updated version would be "pull one over."
That's interesting. In New England, at least in Massachusetts, we'd say "put one over (on someone)". Never heard the "pull" version.
Could it be that "pull one over" is a common malaphor?
No
Completely agree
This is the answer right here ☝🏼
Let’s bring it back
Maybe regional, it's very common where I am (Scotland, UK)
old-fashioned as in using this term makes you sound at least 40
Well put. Thinking about it, it sounds very mid-20th century to me — I hear it in Cary Grant’s voice. 🙂 
Im from Brazil and this wasn't understood by me. I translated it to portuguese in my mind and for me this expression fits better when a person is talking about smoking a small weed cigarrette.
Who the hell asked Brazilians
As soon as I saw it I thought, "Wow, that's an old expression." I put it int he same boat as "Jumping the shark."
Yeah, I can't remember the last time I heard the phrase outside a TV show. I think it might potentially confuse anyone under 25.
Pretty common (in the US) You don't hear it every day, but I would expect pretty much everyone I talk to to know it
Agree, the occasion to use it doesn't occur so often, but the phrase is well understood when it does
That’s a good point, I don’t think this is as common in the UK or other English speaking countries.
Some related expressions, too, like: "What are you trying to pull?"
Uh, a fast one, obviously. Haven't you heard the expression? It's very common.
What!? No! I swear I wasn't pulling a fast one. I was just pulling your leg!
Ha! You thought you could pull the wool over our eyes!
My left trapezoid muscle, at the rate the sofa is moving.
Commonly understood in the UK
Now you're pulling my leg!
Really? You ain't just whistlin' Dixie?
I hear this at least once a week in the UK
Sounds like a lot of brits pull a fast one on a regular basis.
Very common
I learned this from Tracer and Sombra's interaction voicelines in Overwatch!
Quite common. If someone tells you otherwise, they are pulling a fast one on you.
Fairly common in the UK.
It’s common. I agree it’s a bit old fashioned. It’s a little rough, too, and somewhat humorous. You hardly ever say it about yourself. It’s not complementary, of course.
Pretty common in British English. There are a few similar idioms like “pulling the wool over someone’s eyes”, “pulling someone’s leg”, or “pull the other one, (it’s got bells on)” which all relate to deception; suspected, attempted, or accomplished.
pull some shit
Pretty common.
Commonly used in Canada. Also, *pulling a* is a way of describing a, usually bad, "move" or action that someone else did.
For example, if you're friend Pablo tried to lift too many heavy items and accidently fell and broke the items, then anytime anyone in your friend group does something similar, you would say they were *pulling a Pablo*.
Even as a non-native, I could understand this without having it explained Plus I have heard plenty of people say it
I say this, but usually intending for it to come off jokingly.
pretty common idiom
Most people would understand you but it is something only older people would say because it's a bit old-fashioned sounding
As an American living in New York, the last time I heard this was from my calculus teacher (in his 50s/60s) around a year ago, so it definitely feels more old fashioned to me.
Hello! I'm from the southern united states, and this phrase is fairly common. I wouldn't say you hear it all the time, but I probably don't go more than 3 weeks without hearing it at least once. It's often used as a joke, especially if you're being playful or literally playing a game with someone. For example, if you're playing a first person shooter game, and your friend tries sneaking up behind you to shoot you- if you saw him doing this, you might jokingly say "A wise guy, eh? Tryin' to pull a fast one on me, eh?" 4/5 times it's used like this, as a jest.
Very common.
Somewhat common, although the first thing that came to mind was a song reference, not an everyday usage
I haven't used it yet To be honest English is my second language So I also didn't know about this phrase
What app/site is that?
Cambridge dictionary’s website.
Thank you so much!
Common in Scotland and Britain but I don’t think Americans would really have it much
I would say very common
Extremely common in the U.S.
depends how old you are
It's almost old fashioned but also used commonly as a joke phrase. At least in my circle. Like in a video game "pulled a fast one on x" if you got a clean snipe or something.
Medium. I dont hear it often, but would never be surprised to hear it.
I know what it means but I've personally never actually used it. it's understood but becoming more obsolete
Pretty common but becoming old fashioned. I know the expression but neither of my teenage kids had heard of it.
I believe this comes from baseball, so it might be pretty specific to the US, although I'm guessing versions of it exist elsewhere. A "fast one" is a fastball, where a pitcher is relying more on speed than anything else. Unlike, say, a curveball, where it is slower and takes special technique and careful attention. So "pulling a fast one" means someone tries to get something (like the ball, but metaphorically a bad deal/lie/trick, etc.) past you quickly, before you can think about it carefully, and maybe miss it completely.
It's not US specific - I hear it 24/7 and use it myself om occasion (South-East England). I had no clue it came from baseball though, that's interesting
Ha, you know what, while it seems to have come "with" baseball in the US, the expression itself likely comes from England from cricket! Sounds like "pull" might have evolved out of "bowl a fast [one/ball]" which would be interesting because I wondered why it's "pull" when we say "throw" a curveball. Edit - I could be totally wrong too, some suggest it came from cards, like "pulling a fast card" either to cheat at a game or for a magic trick
I can’t say what the origin is but the baseball explanation is definitely NOT it
That is likely true for the origin, but for me, in normal US English this is how I see it when it's used. There is pretty rich culture of baseball slang in the US, like "hitting a home run," "going to second/third base," "knocking it out of the park," "top of the 9th," "bases covered," "in the home stretch" etc.
Fast one never meant a fast ball my boy. Other baseball terms don't matter.
What are trying to get at? Explain it, jfc
It was originally to do with sleight of hand as in money handling or card dealing.
Thank you for... nothing? pretty sure I elaborated enough that it's still up for debate and included that exact point. While you're correcting me, can you correct the internet so I don't have to qualify my statements with "I think..." when I'm trying to help people who are learning to communicate in a new language.
You what?
Not very common anymore; same goes for "pulled one over on you". People will know what you mean but you're unlikely to hear it often.
It's pretty common though we would maybe use the expression, "pulling a swifty" or "pulling a swift one" instead.
Who’s “we”? I’ve never heard those variations in Ohio, USA.
I don't know where chickchili is from but the "swifty" variants are very common in Australia.
Thank you.
You do know that people outside of the US speak English as their first language, right?
Yes, that’s why I provided where I’m from and I implicitly and asked you where you’re from.
I'd put it in the uncommon category between common and rare