Context
A mate winds you up about your terrible parking.
Me está tomando el pelo.
'He's pulling my leg/hair' — tomar el pelo is the exact Spanish equivalent. Learn it.
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sayingsSaying 8 of 25
taking the mickey
British for teasing, mocking, or taking the piss — can be affectionate or genuinely accusatory.
Literal translation trap
There is no Mickey in Spanish. 'Tomar el pelo' (pull someone's hair) is the near-perfect equivalent.
Say it like this
Context
A shop charges an outrageous price for something basic.
Esto es una tomadura de pelo.
The noun form — a mickey-take, a rip-off. Very common in consumer complaints.
Context
Someone makes fun of how long you spent getting ready.
¿Te estás quedando conmigo?
Are you having me on? — also means 'are you taking the mickey?' Extremely common.
Context
A comedian roasts someone affectionately.
Le está vacilando.
Vacilar = to tease, wind up, take the mickey. Very common in Spain.
Context
A colleague questions if the timeline on a project is serious.
¿Esto va en serio o qué?
'Is this serious or what?' — disbelief that bleeds into feeling mocked.