Meaning & use
make fun
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“make fun” is a form of “make fun”.
Meaning
phraseintransitive
To tease or mock someone or something, usually in a playful or unkind way, often followed by 'of'.
Grammar: Used with 'of' before the person or thing being teased: make fun of someone.
Patterns
- make fun of someone
- make fun of something
The children made fun of his new haircut.
Don't make fun of her accent; it's not kind.
They often make fun of the way he pronounces words.
Word forms
| third person singular | makes fun |
|---|---|
| past tense | made fun |
| past participle | made fun |
| -ing form | making fun |
Common combinations
- make fun of someone
- It's not nice to make fun of someone because of their clothes.
- make fun of something
- The comedian made fun of the government's new policy.
- make fun of the way
- He made fun of the way she walked.
- make fun of someone's name
- The bullies made fun of his name every day.
Synonyms and how they differ
- tease
- Tease can be playful or affectionate, while 'make fun of' often suggests unkind mockery.
- mock
- Mock is more formal and can imply scorn; 'make fun of' is more common in everyday speech.
- ridicule
- Ridicule is stronger and more formal, suggesting harsh laughter at someone; 'make fun of' can be milder.
Opposites
Word family
- fun noun
- Enjoyment or amusement; 'make fun' uses this noun in a fixed phrase.
Commonly confused: make fun or make funny?
make fun vs make funny
'Make funny' is not a standard phrase; 'make fun of' is the correct expression for teasing.
Practice
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose one answer.
The phrase 'make fun of' requires the preposition 'of' before the person or thing being teased. Option 1 is correct. Options 2, 3, and 4 are wrong because they use the wrong preposition or omit it.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “make fun”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.