take the mickey

idiomatic phrase

British, informal

: to make fun of someone

Everyone laughed, but nobody laughed harder than Luna Lovegood. … "Are you taking the mickey?" said Ron, frowning at her.

—J. K. Rowling

"They're my favorite band, so whatever they do, I'm a fan. I occasionally take the mickey out of Mick, but nobody takes the mickey out of Keith Richards and gets away with it."

—Pete Townsend

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above