Do you know the term 'taking the mickey'?

@JudyEv (325853)
Rockingham, Australia
March 15, 2024 8:39pm CST
We’ve all watched comedians who take off or impersonate other celebrities. In Australia, this is often called 'taking the mickey' out of someone. Some are better at these impersonations than others. They might pick on a particular quirk or turn of phrase, an accent. When a relatively small thing is exaggerated, the result can be very funny. Years ago, there was a TV presenter/newsreader who was very good at her job. She seemed to have no quirks or foibles and I remarked to my husband that it would be hard for anyone to poke fun at her. But then, one night on a comedy show, someone portrayed her and did a marvellous job. It seems no-one is safe from some of these comedians. The photo was taken in the Japanese Gardens at the National Stud in Co. Kildare, Ireland.
23 people like this
21 responses
Kareng
@kareng (54779)
• United States
16 Mar
I've never heard that term before, but yes impersonations are always done by comedians. Some are wonderful. And some fall flat!!
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325853)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar
One comedian used to take off a former Prime Minister very well. He once said that when the PM stood down, he (the impersonator) would be out of a job.
3 people like this
Kareng
@kareng (54779)
• United States
17 Mar
@JudyEv That's funny!!!
1 person likes this
Anindita Sengupta
@aninditasen (15742)
• Raurkela, India
16 Mar
In India they call it mimicking.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325853)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar
I guess that is right although they are making fun of them at the same time.
2 people like this
Anindita Sengupta
@aninditasen (15742)
• Raurkela, India
17 Mar
@JudyEv That's right as the act of mimicking makes people laugh.
1 person likes this
rebelann1949
@rebelann (111200)
• El Paso, Texas
16 Mar
That photo really shows how green Ireland is, it's beautiful. I remember the old variety shows we'd watch back in the 1960s and 1970s and some of those comedians loved to mimic presidents as well and boy was that funny. I just found this one, this guy is really good
youtu.be
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1 person likes this
rebelann1949
@rebelann (111200)
• El Paso, Texas
16 Mar
I hope it'll be entertaining, I sure did enjoy watching it.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325853)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar
@rebelann I watched it this morning. Those people were very talented. Thanks again.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325853)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar
Thanks for the link. I've copied it to my myLot file to watch tomorrow. I really need to go to bed at the moment.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (458375)
• Switzerland
16 Mar
I did not know the phrase, but I like those actors who poke fun at famous people. An Italian actor made me laugh until tears last week impersonating the US President.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (458375)
• Switzerland
17 Mar
@JudyEv I have seen some involving Trump, often the actor was Alec Baldwin. The Italian actor walking like a robot and pushing an enormous red button thinking it was "the elevator" was funny but a bit scary thinking at reality.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325853)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar
Rebelann put up a clip with some great impersonisations on it. One of those involved Trump.
1 person likes this
Marie
@Tampa_girl7 (49025)
• United States
16 Mar
I’ve never heard that term before. I love the photo.
1 person likes this
Marie
@Tampa_girl7 (49025)
• United States
19 Mar
@JudyEv I love the look of the bridge.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325853)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar
The red bridge really stood out amongst the greenery.
1 person likes this
Shiva
@Shiva49 (26204)
• Singapore
16 Mar
I have heard about this phrase. I used to wonder about its origin. Some regale us by impersonating others and that is a rare talent.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325853)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Mar
@Shiva49 Yes, that sounds like it! lol
1 person likes this
Shiva
@Shiva49 (26204)
• Singapore
17 Mar
@JudyEv Cockney speak. I had a British colleague while in Indonesia. He used to regale me with a cockney accent and some I could not make head or tail of - sort of taking the piss!
1 person likes this
Shavkat
@Shavkat (137213)
• Philippines
16 Mar
I am also entertained by watching some impersonators. They are good at this craft.
1 person likes this
Shavkat
@Shavkat (137213)
• Philippines
17 Mar
@JudyEv I do agree with that.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325853)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar
The good ones can be very entertaining.
1 person likes this
OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (86776)
• United States
16 Mar
I do know it well Judy I know what it means. Isn't that nice..I had never seen those lovely gardens in Ireland.
1 person likes this
OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (86776)
• United States
16 Mar
@JudyEv Nice Judy.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325853)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar
I was looking for the red bridge in my photos of Monet's garden but the one there was green. The gardens at the stud were very attractive.
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (95292)
• Marion, Ohio
16 Mar
Never heard that one
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (95292)
• Marion, Ohio
16 Mar
@JudyEv There is different sayings in each country and sometimes just in an area of a country.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325853)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar
I'm never sure nowadays what is familiar to myLotters and what isn't.
1 person likes this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (73472)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Mar
Lovely gardens, I have never heard that term before,
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325853)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar
I never know if people know a term or not. Some that I'm very familiar with, people in the US have never heard of.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (306455)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
16 Mar
I haven't heard the term before, but I have seen celebrities do that to famous people.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (306455)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
16 Mar
@JudyEv Yes, they can.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325853)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar
Some can be very funny.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (156395)
• United States
16 Mar
That's the first I've heard of that phrase. Lovely photo. I hope you and Vince have a wonderful weekend.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325853)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar
Thanks for the good wishes. The gardens there were very lovely.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (156395)
• United States
17 Mar
@JudyEv You're very welcome.
1 person likes this
Laurel (L_B)
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
16 Mar
I have never heard the phrase before but I do enjoy impersonators. Some of them as so good. In Canada a mickey is a small bottle of liquor, holding 375 ml or 13 oz., shaped to fit in one's pocket.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325853)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar
We'd call that a flask. I haven't hear it called a mickey before.
1 person likes this
Laurel (L_B)
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
16 Mar
@JudyEv only in Canada.
1 person likes this
Diana
@dya80dya (33579)
•
16 Mar
I haven't heard this term before.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325853)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar
It seems it's a new one for a lot of people.
Heather Echola
@GardenGerty (157562)
• United States
16 Mar
I think I had heard the term but did not know what it meant. Do you know how it originated?
1 person likes this
changjiangzhibin89
@changjiangzhibin89 (16537)
• China
16 Mar
I didn't know the phrase until read your post.However my dictionary has it.Impersonating other people comes naturally to some people.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325853)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar
That's so true. It seems to come very naturally to some.
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Anne Marie Guyer
@LeaPea2417 (36451)
• Toccoa, Georgia
16 Mar
I have not heard that before.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325853)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar
There have been a few who don't know the term.
1 person likes this
Fiacre Banks
@xFiacre (12598)
• Ireland
16 Mar
@judyev And, to be lavatorial for a moment, the Michael isn’t the only thing that is said to taken in such situations, but you knew that.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325853)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar
Yes, I did know that! There are probably a few different terms for it.
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Dena Miller
@Dena91 (15894)
• United States
16 Mar
I've haven't heard that term before. I like watching impersonations when done really well. Lovely photo.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325853)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar
Some comedians are better at it than others but good ones are entertaining to watch.
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M Cheung
@Beestring (13327)
• Hong Kong
16 Mar
This term is new to me. I've learned something. Thanks.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325853)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar
There are so many terms that are peculiar to a certain country or region.
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