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make fun of vs poke fun at

Both 'make fun of' and 'poke fun at' are correct phrases in English, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'Make fun of' is more direct and can sometimes have a negative connotation, implying mockery or ridicule. On the other hand, 'poke fun at' is a milder and more playful way of teasing or joking about someone or something.

Last updated: March 30, 2024 • 623 views

make fun of

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English, but it can sometimes have a negative connotation.

This phrase is used when someone is mocking or ridiculing someone or something in a direct manner. It can be considered more harsh or critical compared to 'poke fun at.'

Examples:

  • Please don't make fun of her accent; it's rude.
  • He always makes fun of my cooking skills.
  • Stop making fun of him; he's trying his best.
  • She felt hurt when they made fun of her appearance.
  • Bullying is never okay, especially when it involves making fun of others.
  • Don't make fun of an older woman.
  • You make fun of everything I do, including my job.
  • And don't make fun of her hair.
  • Today it is customary to make fun of fascist rhetoric.
  • Can't make fun of something that's a null set.
  • Don't make fun of your elder.
  • You like to make fun of us.
  • I like to make fun of everything.
  • People should make fun of foreigners.
  • Sometimes people make fun of those things.
  • I must not make fun of the supervisors... with grotesque imitation, unconnected with reality.
  • Nobody will ever make fun of him for that.
  • You can't make fun of Finn anymore.
  • My friends and I go there ironically To make fun of people who actually like it.
  • Let's just walk around and make fun of this stuff.
  • They still make fun of him though.
  • One mustn't make fun of alerts.
  • Kids make fun of everything, right?
  • Even the Venezuelans make fun of him.

Alternatives:

  • mock
  • ridicule
  • tease
  • taunt
  • laugh at

poke fun at

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English, often in a more light-hearted and playful context.

This phrase is used when someone is teasing or joking about someone or something in a more gentle or good-natured way. It is less harsh than 'make fun of.'

Examples:

  • We like to poke fun at each other's quirks.
  • She's just poking fun at you; don't take it seriously.
  • It's all in good fun; we're just poking fun at the situation.
  • The comedian poked fun at current events in his stand-up routine.
  • Friends often poke fun at each other as a sign of affection.
  • Don't poke fun at the freight industry
  • He used the anonymity to poke fun at his classmates, sometimes a bit harsh.
  • This time, they did not want to poke fun at me.
  • He'd poke fun at himself all the time.
  • I didn't mean to poke fun at you.
  • But it was a lot of fun to poke fun at ourselves.
  • She hardly speaks to me except to ask for money... or poke fun at me because I work for a living.
  • He must learn not to poke fun at the authorities.
  • I think that this point has become extremely important over recent years for Greece too, especially - to push the debate forward a little - under the weight of the use of cultural monuments for purposes unrelated to culture, in order to poke fun at my country.
  • A good thing, in the wrong place, but with my truck... you know You shouldn't poke fun at the freight industry, that's all
  • Don't poke fun at the freight industry.
  • I used to poke fun at your bow tie in the past, anyway, but that regular tie they put you in for the filming - that wasn't doing you any favors, either.
  • To poke fun at their stereotypes: [#IfAfricaWasABar Nigeria would be outside explaining that he will pay the entrance fee, all he needs is the bouncer's account details.]

Alternatives:

  • tease
  • joke about
  • banter with
  • playfully mock
  • make light of

Related Comparisons

consist of vs made of made of vs Made from made of vs made with made of vs made by make friends of vs become friends of do fun of vs make fun of

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