you're joking | you're kidding | you can't be serious

INFORMAL
This page is about the conversational phrase you're joking | you're kidding | you can't be serious

Meaning

You can say this if someone says something surprising or ridiculous.

For example

  • "I'm going to quit my job and be a Buddhist monk."
    "You're joking! You? A Buddhist monk? You can't be serious!"

  • "My husband's fallen in love with another man."
    "You're kidding! A man? You can't be serious!"

Note:
Also "You've got to be joking!" and "You've got to be kidding!"

Quick Quiz

If someone says "You're joking!" or "You can't be serious!", they must be

a. very amused

b. very surprised

c. very ridiculous
a) very amused b) very surprised c) very ridiculous

Contributor: Matt Errey