Wind someone up

WIND-up /ˈwaɪnd ʌp/
Informal Depends on context

What it really means

To tease someone or deliberately annoy them as a joke. "Is this a wind-up?" means "is this a joke / are you tricking me?".

Chinese explanation
故意逗弄、捉弄某人。Is this a wind-up? 意思是"这是在整我吗?是玩笑吧?"。

Example conversation

A: The exam's been moved to tomorrow morning. B: Is this a wind-up? A: No, seriously, check your email.
A:考试提前到明天上午了。 B:你在逗我吧? A:没有,真的,去看邮件。

What you could say back

“You're winding me up, right?”

Related phrases

All British Slang
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team · Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake