Idiom
take the mickey
Meanings
To tease or make fun of someone, often playfully.
To ridicule someone in a way that can be disrespectful or annoying.
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To treat a situation as a joke or not take something seriously.
Definition
To take the mickey means to tease someone or make fun of them in a not-too-serious way.
To take the mickey is a British idiom meaning to mock, tease, or joke about someone. It often suggests friendly ridicule, but it can also feel insulting if it goes too far. People use it when someone is being laughed at or not taken seriously.
Examples
- Are you taking the mickey out of me, or are you serious?
- He was taking the mickey when he said he could finish the whole project in a day.
- Don’t take the mickey—this is important to me.
- My brother always takes the mickey about my haircut.
- I thought she was taking the mickey, but she actually meant it.
More at B2 level
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