PhrasesHub

Take the Mickey

    Definitions

      • make fun of someone
        To mock or tease someone in a light-hearted or playful manner

      • deceive or trick
        To play a practical joke or deceive someone in a mischievous or playful way

    Examples of Take the Mickey

    • John keeps making silly jokes during important meetings. It's like he's taking the Mickey out of the situation.

      "Take the Mickey" is a British English idiom that means to make fun of someone or a situation in a way that is less serious than would be expected. In this example, John's silly jokes are making light of the seriousness of the meeting, and his colleagues feel that he is not taking the situation seriously enough. This idiom emphasizes the idea that the person is acting naively, as if they are being taken advantage of by someone who is trying to make a joke out of the situation, which in this case is John himself.

    • The marketing team's latest campaign is just a gimmick to make a quick buck. They're obviously taking the Mickey out of the consumers.

      In this example, "Take the Mickey" is used to refer to a situation where a company is trying to make a quick profit at the expense of their customers. The marketing team is being seen as ignorant or naive, as they are unlikely to realize that they are being laughed at by consumers who can see that the campaign is just a gimmick. This idiom is commonly used in situations where someone's actions are seen as foolish or too simplistic to merit serious consideration.

    • The play was a huge success, but the lead actor's performance was terrible. It was like he was taking the Mickey out of the audience.

      In this example, "Take the Mickey" is used to refer to a situation where a performer is acting in a way that intentionally offends their audience. The lead actor's terrible performance is seen as a deliberate attempt to mock the audience and make them feel foolish for paying to watch the play. This idiom is commonly used in situations where someone's actions are seen as intentionally cruel or malicious.

    • The manager promised that the new product would revolutionize the industry. Now that we've seen it in action, it's clear that he was taking the Mickey.

      In this example, "Take the Mickey" is used to refer to a situation where someone has made a promise or statement that turns out to be false. The manager's promises about the new product were seen as naive or of questionable credibility, and his colleagues now believe that he was trying to deceive them rather than genuinely represent the product's potential. This idiom is commonly used in situations where someone's actions are seen as dishonest, misleading or untrustworthy.

    • John kept making funny faces and gestures during the play, taking the Mickey out of the actors.

      To "take the Mickey" is a British slang term that means to make fun of someone or something in a teasing, light-hearted way. In this example, John's actions during the play were meant to ridicule or make fun of the actors' performances.

    • Sarah's boss kept suggesting impractical and unrealistic ideas during the meeting, taking the Mickey out of everyone else's proposals.

      In this example, Sarah's boss was using his position of power to undermine the ideas presented by others, making fun or taking the Mickey out of their suggestions.

    • The comedian used a variety of exaggerated facial expressions and gestures during his stand-up routine, taking the Mickey out of everyday situations and making them humorous.

      Here, the comedian was using humor to mock or make fun of common scenarios, taking the Mickey out of them in a light-hearted and entertaining way for the audience.

    • The manager purposely set up a difficult task for the new employee as a prank, taking the Mickey out of them and creating an unnecessary challenge.

      In this example, the manager was teasing or making fun of the new employee by setting up an unnecessary challenge for them, in effect, taking the Mickey out of their situation.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "take the Mickey" can be used to either make fun of someone or to deceive or trick them in a playful manner. It is often used in a light-hearted context and is not meant to be taken seriously.

    Origin of "Take the Mickey"

    The origin of the idiom "take the Mickey" is uncertain, but it is believed to have originated in British slang in the early 20th century. Some suggest that it comes from the rhyming slang "take the Mick" which in turn comes from "take the mickey bliss" where "mickey bliss" rhymes with "piss," a vulgar term for urine. This would imply that "take the Mickey" originally meant to take the piss or make fun of someone. Another theory is that it comes from the name Mickey Finn, a famous drink spiker, which would imply deception or trickery. Regardless of its exact origin, the idiom has become widely used in British English to convey light-hearted mockery or playful deception.