Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

take the piss

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.16 in modern English

Syllables: take the piss
IPA

20

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

1

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To tease, ridicule or mock (someone).

British usage; Intransitive verb; Slang

verb

To subject those present to teasing, ridicule or mockery, or to show contempt.

British usage; Intransitive verb; Slang

verb

To be outrageously unreasonable.

British usage; Intransitive verb; Slang

Example Sentences

"You know, cos he was like taking the piss out of them and they took the piss out of him."
"A lot of that stuff that people take the piss out of all the time is actually useful."
"He's either taking it easy or taking the piss by arriving at the eleventh hour."
"I've got three exams on the same day! That's taking the piss!"

Etymology

Possibly from piss-proud (“falsely presenting as successful”). In which case taking the piss out of would mean deflating their false pride, usually through disparagement or mockery. As the piss-proud metaphor became dated, taking the piss out of someone came to refer to disparagement or mockery itself, regardless of the pride of the subject. Eventually the shortened, intransitive form taking the piss became common.

Usage

Inflected Forms

takes the piss (present, singular) taking the piss (participle, present) took the piss (past) taken the piss (participle, past) piss-take (alternative) pisstake (alternative)

Phrases

piss-taker piss and wind take the wind out of someone's sails

Frequently Paired Words

piss-taker piss and wind take the wind out of someone's sails

Synonyms

extract the urine take the mickey rip the piss

Questions

What does take the piss mean?: To tease, ridicule or mock (someone).
Where does take the piss come from?: Possibly from piss-proud (“falsely presenting as successful”). In which case taking the piss out of would mean deflating their false pride, usually through disparagement or mockery. As the piss-proud metaphor became dated, taking the piss out of someone came to refer to disparagement or mockery itself, regardless of the pride of the subject. Eventually the shortened, intransitive form taking the piss became common.

How to pronounce take the piss

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