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English Club : Learn English : Vocabulary
Vocabulary : Idioms : British : take the mickey | mick out of someone

take the mickey | mick out of someone British English Informal

Meaning: If you're taking the mickey out of someone, or taking the mick out of them, you're making fun of them or copying their behaviour for a laugh.

For example:

  • When I moved to the U.S., I upset a few people by taking the mickey out of them. They didn't understand that it was just for fun, and I wasn't being mean to them.

  • Taking the mick out of someone can help them to learn how not to take themselves too seriously.

Variety: This idiom is typically used in British English but may be used in other varieties of English too.

Quick Quiz:

Clyde is great at taking the mickey out of people. He can be
  1. really helpful
  2. really funny
  3. really sensitive