Idioms Related to Humour in the Workplace
| Idiom | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Play the fool | Act silly or foolish to make others laugh. | During the office party, John played the fool by doing silly dances and telling funny jokes. |
| Pull someone’s leg | Joke with someone, often by teasing or tricking them. | My coworker pulled my leg by pretending to steal my coffee mug. |
| Take the mickey | Make fun of someone in a playful way. | The new intern was taking the mickey out of the boss’s outdated fashion sense. |
| Give someone a hard time | Tease or joke with someone in a playful way. | The team was giving the new employee a hard time by hiding her office supplies. |
| A laugh at someone’s expense | Find amusement in someone else’s misfortune or embarrassment. | It’s not appropriate to laugh at someone’s expense, even if they make a mistake. |
| Play a prank | Do something unexpected or mischievous to surprise or trick someone. | On April Fools’ Day, the team played a prank on the boss by filling his office with balloons. |
| Be a prankster | Someone who enjoys playing pranks on others. | Sarah is known as the office prankster, always coming up with new tricks to play on her coworkers. |
| Make a joke at someone’s expense | Tell a joke that is funny because it makes fun of someone. | It’s important to avoid making jokes at someone’s expense, especially if it could be hurtful. |
| Poke fun at someone | Make fun of someone in a playful way. | The team was poking fun at the boss’s new haircut during the lunch break. |
| Make light of something | Treat a serious situation in a humorous way. | Trying to make light of the stressful deadline was a way for the team to cope with the pressure. |
| Ribbing | Good-natured teasing or joking. | A little ribbing among coworkers can help to lighten the mood and reduce stress. |
| Take the piss | Make fun of someone in a disrespectful way. | Taking the piss out of someone’s appearance or abilities can be hurtful and unprofessional. |
| To needle someone | Annoy or irritate someone with repeated teasing or criticism. | Constantly needling a coworker can create a hostile work environment. |
| A wind-up | A playful trick or joke. | The marketing team set up a wind-up for the sales team by hiding their laptops on April Fools’ Day. |
| Have banter | Engage in playful conversation, often involving teasing or joking. | Having banter with coworkers can help to build camaraderie and improve morale. |
| Share a joke | Tell a joke to others. | Sharing a joke during a team meeting can help to break up the monotony and lighten the mood. |
| Be a clown | Act silly or foolish to make others laugh. | The new intern was known for being a clown, always cracking jokes and making people smile. |
| Be a joker | Someone who enjoys telling jokes and making people laugh. | My boss is a natural joker, always finding ways to lighten up the atmosphere in the office. |
| A wag | A person who enjoys making jokes and teasing others. | The office wag was always the first to make a joke when something went wrong. |
| Put someone down | Criticize or belittle someone. | Putting someone down can be hurtful and damaging to workplace relationships. |
Idioms Related to Humour in the Workplace
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