Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to tease, to hoax, to engage someone’s attention with the longer term intention of deceiving them; thus to swindle, to cheat.

1882		E.V. Page ‘’Arry’ 🎵 There you are then ’Arry! / Where are you going on Sunday ’Arry? / Now you’ve got ’em on.
1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Jan. 6/4: ‘Got up,’ you ‘did’ the Burlington Arcade / (Your Upper Hunter pals this will be gall on) / And patent leathers, too, also ’tis said, / You ‘mounted,’ John, when you had ’em ‘all on.’.
1910		Sun. Times (Perth) 26 June 2nd sect. 12/8: What is this bit of nosey flam / That Israel Zangwill has us on?
1915		H.L. Wilson Ruggles of Red Gap (1917) 321: You’re having me on. My word you are – spoofing.
1944		L. Glassop We Were the Rats 5: What’s all this—? Are ya havin’ me on? What’s that there fancy handle ya give me?
1947		G. Fairlie Bulldog Drummond Stands Fast 91: The girl had me on properly, and the sooner forgotten the sooner mended.
1956		B. Behan Quare Fellow (1960) Act II: You’re having me on!
1968		P. Terson Apprentices (1970) II iii: boswell: I didn’t know Richard Burton was Welsh. jimmy: I think he’s having us on.
1973		B.S. Johnson All Bull 180: Were these sods having me on?
1986		J. Sullivan ‘Tea for Three’ Only Fools and Horses [TV script] He’s just having you on!
1999		C. Dexter Remorseful Day (2000) 106: You’re having me on!
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl.