take the mickey (out of someone)

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of take the mickey (out of someone) was in 1948

Dictionary Entries Near take the mickey (out of someone)

Cite this Entry

“Take the mickey (out of someone).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20the%20mickey%20%28out%20of%20someone%29. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!