Taking the Mickey

Taking the Mickey (phrase / UK Slang)

(Also heard as: Take the mick, Taking the mick, Mickey take)

Definition:

Taking the mickey means teasing, mocking or making fun of someone. It can be friendly banter between mates, or it can be annoying if someone feels they are being laughed at. It can also mean treating something unfairly, as in “asking for that much is taking the mickey”.

Where Taking the Mickey Comes From:

The phrase is believed to be a shortened form of “take the Mickey Bliss”, which was Cockney rhyming slang for “take the piss”, from the name Mickey Bliss. It was in use by the 1940s and 1950s. It has since become a mild, polite alternative that appears in everyday British conversation.

How People Actually Use Taking the Mickey:

Friends say “are you taking the mick?” when they think they are being teased or tricked. In shops or at work, it means being overcharged or taken advantage of. The phrase also appears in “mickey-take”, a name for a parody or spoof.

Is Taking the Mickey Rude?

It is milder than the phrase it comes from, and it is fine in most settings. Stay careful with strangers, because it still implies mockery.

Examples in the Wild:

• “Stop taking the mick, I tried my best.”

  Meaning: Please do not make fun of me.

• “A tenner for a coffee? They are taking the mickey.”

  Meaning: That price is unreasonable.

• “We were only taking the mickey out of his haircut.”

  Meaning: We were teasing him for fun.

Similar Slang:

Banter, Cheeky, Chirp, Troll, Ratioed, Gobby

🛍 Shop on eBay › (affiliate)