# Mickey

/ˈmɪki/ (US) · /mˈɪki/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mickey
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

a trick or a joke played on someone to make them look foolish. You often hear this in the phrase 'take the Mickey'.

For teachers: a teasing or mocking gesture or remark intended to ridicule someone. Primarily British in usage and frequently appearing in the idiomatic construction 'to take the Mickey'.

## Examples

- Are you taking the Mickey out of me?
- He realized his colleagues were just taking the Mickey when they told him the meeting was at 6:00 AM.
- While the satire was intended to be lighthearted, some critics felt the comedian was taking the Mickey out of a sensitive political situation that required more gravity.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He took Mickey of his friend." but "He took the Mickey out of his friend." — The idiom requires both the definite article 'the' and the prepositional phrase 'out of'.

## Usage notes

- Almost exclusively used in the singular within the idiom 'take the Mickey'.

---

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.