take the piss

Meaning

1. To tease, ridicule or mock (someone) (with out of).
2. To subject those present to teasing, ridicule or mockery, or to show contempt.
3. To be outrageously unreasonable.

Synonyms

take the mickey

Translations

prendere per il culo

prendere in giro

tomar el pelo

vacilar

يسخر

taşak geçmek

se foutre de la gueule

far la figa

joder

Etymology

Possibly from piss-proud (“falsely presenting as successful”). In which case taking the piss out of would mean deflating their false pride, usually through disparagement or mockery. As the piss-proud metaphor became dated, taking the piss out of someone came to refer to disparagement or mockery itself, regardless of the pride of the subject. Eventually the shortened, intransitive form taking the piss became common.