# Mick

/ˈmɪk/ (US) · /mˈɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mick
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. short for Michael

noun · CEFR A1 · Informal

a common short name for a man named Michael.

For teachers: a diminutive or hypocoristic form of the male given name Michael.

- Most of his friends call him Mick instead of Michael.
- The biography focuses on the early years of Mick Jagger, tracing his development from a student to a global rock icon.

Usage: Commonly used as a nickname in English-speaking countries, particularly in the UK and Ireland.

### 2. insult for an Irish person

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Vulgar

an extremely offensive and rude word for an Irish person or a Catholic person.

For teachers: an offensive ethno-religious slur directed at people of Irish descent or Roman Catholics.

- The character in the old movie used a hateful slur when he called the man a mick.
- The script was revised to remove the term 'mick', as the producers felt the historical slur was too inflammatory for a modern television audience.

Teaching tip: This term is highly offensive and should be avoided entirely by learners. It carries a history of anti-Irish and anti-Catholic prejudice.

### 3. easy

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · American English

very easy to do, especially a school subject or a job.

For teachers: describing a task, course, or job that requires very little effort.

- Everyone signed up for that class because they heard it was a mick course.
- He looked for a mick job over the summer so he could spend most of his time at the beach.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'mick course' or 'mick take' in specific regional dialects.

## Examples

- The historical drama depicted the harsh discrimination Irish immigrants faced, including being called names like Mick.

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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.