What does "Taking the piss" mean?
It means joking, teasing or making fun of someone rather than being serious. It can also mean behaving unreasonably or taking advantage of someone, depending on the situation.
Hear an Aussie say it
The saying
Taking the piss
Example
Are you taking the piss or is that genuine?
How Aussies use it
After work, with a close friend
Sam: The boss wants the whole report rewritten by tomorrow morning.
Priya: Is he taking the piss? That's a week of work.
Here it means being unreasonable.
With close friends
Jack: Nice haircut. Did you do it yourself, in the dark?
Tom: Ha! You're taking the piss. It's not that bad.
Here it means teasing. Tom knows Jack is joking.
How to reply
- "Ha, very funny." If a friend is teasing you and you can take the joke.
- "Are you serious?" A clearer, polite way to check if something is a joke.
When to use it
It has two meanings: teasing someone, or asking for far too much, like a boss who wants a week of work done overnight. The situation tells you which one. Only use it with close friends who use it too, because it is crude.
When not to use it
Piss is a rude word for urine, so avoid this phrase at work, with customers, with strangers, around children and in anything you write. Politer options: "Are you joking?", "You're pulling my leg" (teasing me) or "That's a bit much".
Questions about "Taking the piss"
Is taking the piss rude?
Yes, it is crude. Some Australians use it with close friends, but it is not polite language.
What can I say instead of taking the piss?
Joking, teasing or pulling my leg. To call out something unfair, try "that's a bit much" or "that's not fair".
Is it the same as taking the mickey?
Mostly. Taking the mickey also means teasing someone, and it is a milder way to say it.
