Idiom
take the mickey
Meanings
To mock or make fun of someone; to tease in a way that may be cheeky or insulting.
To not take something seriously and treat it with disrespect, as if it were a joke.
Definition
To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
To take the mickey is a British English idiom meaning to make fun of someone, often by teasing or mocking them. It can be light-hearted among friends, but it can also feel insulting depending on the tone and situation. It is informal and is common in everyday spoken English in the UK.
Examples
- Are you taking the mickey out of me, or did you really forget again?
- He was just taking the mickey, so try not to take it personally.
- Don’t take the mickey out of her accent—it’s not funny.
- The presenter kept taking the mickey during the interview.
- I thought you were taking the mickey when you said you’d won the lottery.
Common mistake
Learners often use this idiom in formal writing, but it is informal and is mainly used in casual British speech.
More at B2 level
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More idiom (verb phrase)s
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