Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

take the mickey

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.86 in modern English

Syllables: take the mick-ey
IPA

31

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

2

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To ridicule or mock someone; to make fun of someone.

British usage; Intransitive verb; Slang

Example Sentences

"Are you takin’ the mickey? You’ll get yer ’ead bashed in."
"For the last eight years, taking the mickey out of George Bush has been great, victimless fun. Like taking candy from babies or shooting aquatically-challenged fish in size-challenged barrels."

Etymology

Possibly from Cockney rhyming slang “to take the Mickey Bliss” (for take the piss).

Usage

Inflected Forms

takes the mickey (present, singular) taking the mickey (participle, present) took the mickey (past) taken the mickey (participle, past) mickey-take (alternative) take the Michael (alternative) take the mick (alternative) take the micky (alternative)

Synonyms

take the piss befool chaff disparage forgab frump gleek jape jeer jibe josh kid

Questions

What does take the mickey mean?: To ridicule or mock someone; to make fun of someone.
Where does take the mickey come from?: Possibly from Cockney rhyming slang “to take the Mickey Bliss” (for take the piss).

How to pronounce take the mickey

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