Mainly UK, especially south-east England. (v) To use information (true or fictional) to provoke, tease or deceive. (v) To invent with the intent of conning. (n)A deceptive or provocative act. A "
Wind-up merchant" is somebody who is disposed to wind others up, a
habitual liar, or prankster. Origin: from the act of winding a clock or other
clockwork device.
"He claimed he had been in the
SAS, but it was just a wind-up." "Bob would wind Mike up by claiming he'd slept with Mike's girlfriend" "That blokes a
wind-up merchant" "It seemed at first glance to be two mathematicians arguing
number theory, but it was a wind-up - they were just talking nonsense, it turned out."
