Taking the mickey
Informal Depends on context
What it really means
Teasing someone or making fun of them, usually in a friendly way. If someone says "are you taking the mickey?", they may also mean "are you being serious?".
Chinese explanation
开某人的玩笑、调侃某人，通常是友好的。如果有人问 are you taking the mickey，也可能是在问"你是认真的吗？"。
Example conversation
A: Nice umbrella — did you borrow it from your grandma?
B: Are you taking the mickey?
A: Only joking, mate.
A：伞不错啊——是从你奶奶那儿借的吗？
B：你是在损我吗？
A：开玩笑的啦，哥们儿。
All British Slang
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake