took the mickey
Made gentle fun
Took the mickey is British slang meaning teased or mocked someone, usually in a good-natured way: They took the mickey out of him for his new haircut.
The phrase implies ribbing rather than malicious ridicule.
Also *take the mick* or, more vulgarly, *take the piss*.
The origin of "mickey" here is uncertain.
- took the mickTeased or ridiculed someone
- took the pissMocked or teased
- pull someone's legJokingly deceive someone
- leg pullHumorous deception or tease
- Cockney rhyming slangLondon dialect using rhymes
winding someone up · ribbing · joshing · wind up · poking fun · banter · jest · took a joke · tongue-in-cheek · dry humour · satire · playful banter · ridicule · have a laugh · take the piss · having a go · sarcasm · irony
took the mickeybigged up
Praised or promoted enthusiastically
praised · complimented · gassed up · put on a pedestal · lauded
took the mickeybullied
Repeatedly mistreated by aggressors
savaged · tore apart · humiliated · went for the jugular · crossed the line
took the mickeyencouraged
Gave support and confidence
supported · cheered on · built up · boosted · reassured