# make fun of

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/make-fun-of
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To tease, ridicule or make jokes about, generally in a pejorative manner.

## Examples

- It is not nice to make fun of other people.
- Please do not make fun of my singing voice.
- The students started to make fun of his new haircut, which made him feel very embarrassed.
- The comedian likes to make fun of his own clumsy mistakes to make the audience feel more comfortable.
- I used to make fun of my brother's strange hobbies, but now I actually enjoy doing them with him.
- Although he often used humor to connect with others, he frequently crossed the line to make fun of his colleagues' professional mistakes.

## Origin

First recorded in 1737, the phrase preserves an earlier, less festive sense of its noun. The term traces back to the 1680s verb fun, meaning to cheat or trick, which produced the circa 1700 noun for a hoax or a swindle. This usage is rooted in the Middle English fon or fonne, denoting a fool or a person of simple character. Under this construction, to make fun of someone was to make a fool of them, or perhaps more accurately, to make a trick of them.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.