london.localmean.com/taking-the-mick
taking the mick
TAY-king thuh MIK · /ˌteɪ.kɪŋ ðə ˈmɪk/
Local meaning
Mocking someone, making them look silly, or behaving as though a situation is not being taken seriously.
To “take the mick” or “take the mickey” out of someone is to make fun of them, either playfully or unkindly. The phrase can also complain that someone is exploiting patience or treating rules as a joke: “Are you taking the mick?” The shortened form is especially common in everyday British speech.
Examples in context
- They were taking the mick out of his new haircut.
- Eight pounds for that tiny sandwich? They’re taking the mick.
- I know you’re joking, but stop taking the mick.
How it is used
With a person, the pattern is usually “take the mick out of someone”. Without an object, it can mean behaving unreasonably or treating others as fools.
Playful, irritated, critical, or hurt.
Banter, teasing, complaints about prices or service, and challenges to unserious behaviour.
Informal British conversation.
Friendly teasing can become bullying; the target’s reaction and the power relationship matter.
Spelling and scope
Established UK informal English heard across London and Britain; broader and older than current MLE vocabulary.
- Search forms
take the micktake the mickeytaking the mickey
Common search forms stay discoverable without claiming that every London community uses one spelling.
Common patterns
- take the mick
- taking the mick out of
- are you taking the mick?
- take the mickey
Read next
All words →Evidence and further reading
Sources support the definition, history, or usage layer. Local review remains welcome.
- take the mickey or mick out of someone — English meaningCambridge Dictionary
Documents the UK informal phrase meaning to laugh at someone and make them seem silly.