Meaning & use
poking fun
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“poking fun” is a form of “poke fun”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
phraseidiominformal
Teasing or making jokes about someone or something, often in a light-hearted way, though it can sometimes sting.
Grammar: Used with at plus the target: they were poking fun at his hat.
Patterns
- poke fun at someone
- poke fun at something
- stop poking fun at someone
The students were poking fun at the teacher's old-fashioned sweaters.
Stop poking fun at your brother; he's trying his best.
Comedians have been poking fun at politicians for centuries.
Word forms
| base form | poke fun |
|---|---|
| third person singular | pokes fun |
| past tense | poked fun |
| -ing form | poking fun |
Common combinations
- poking fun at himself
- He kept poking fun at himself to ease the tension.
- poking fun at politicians
- The show is famous for poking fun at politicians.
- good-natured poking fun
- It was only good-natured poking fun, so nobody was offended.
- stop poking fun
- Stop poking fun and help me carry these boxes.
- poking fun at the idea
- They spent dinner poking fun at the idea of a surprise party.
Synonyms and how they differ
- teasing
- It is usually friendly and affectionate, and works with people you know well.
- mocking
- It is harsher and suggests contempt where poking fun may be gentle.
- ridiculing
- It is stronger and more formal, and suggests the target is made to look foolish.
- making fun of
- It is a close equivalent, but it can be a little more hurtful than poking fun.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: poking fun or making fun of?
poking fun vs making fun of
Make fun of is a nearby idiom with a similar meaning, but it often sounds more cruel than gentle poke fun.
Practice
My friends are always poking fun ___ my terrible singing.
Choose one answer.
The idiom is poke fun at someone or something. On, with and for do not combine with poke fun to name the target.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “poking fun”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.