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  • #1

    Word Usage Question for the Brits on This Site

    I was watching a documentary on the science channel a few nights ago and the program was featuring the problems of man and woman living in England. The man at one point used the phrase "tear the mickey" and was bleeped. I am familiar with the phrase but I didn't think it was obscene. Am I missing something?
    My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can.---Cary Grant
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  • #2
    According to my quick googling, it just means to make fun of someone. Apparently it was used in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
    I don't go in for ancient wisdom
    I don't believe just 'cause ideas are tenacious
    It means that they're worthy - Tim Minchin, "White Wine in the Sun"

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    • #3
      See, that's what I thought. That it meant to tease or give someone a hard time. So why would they bleep it...
      My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can.---Cary Grant

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      • #4
        Mick/Mickey is a racial slur for Irish folks

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        • #5
          Not sure that it started as a slur, so to speak. We have in the past referred to Germans as Krauts (their term for cabbage) and French as Frogs. It's something children grow out of (unless you read the Sun).

          However, the phrase is actually 'take the mickey'.

          Rapscallion

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          • #6
            It's cockney rhyming slang: Taking the Mickey Bliss = Taking the piss.
            Good customers are as rare as Latinum. Treasure them. ~ The 57th Ferengi Rule Of Acquisition.

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            • #7
              And persons of English nationality are POMS (aka Pommy Bastards )

              And, taking the Mickey is known down here as well, and we'd be just as confused as to why it'd get censored... (course, if it's after 9 or 10pm, they'll be swearing a lot worse than that on our telly!)
              When I said "From my research", what I actually meant to say was "Made shit up" - from a thottbot thread

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