I did not know that he was pulling my leg all the time.

A fair crack of the whip

He is an interesting speaker but tends to <u><em>go off at a tangent</em></u>.

To wrangle over an ass's shadow

He <u><em>bids fair</em></u> to be an excellent cricketer.

A man of straw

The accounts of the murder <u><em>made her flesh creep</em></u>.

The robbery was committed <u><em>in the wee hours of the day</em></u>.

He has <u><em>designs on</em></u> that young girl.