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kid on

B2 informal inseparable transitive/intransitive

In Scottish and Northern Irish English, to pretend, or to try to make someone believe something that is not true.

In plain English

To pretend that something is true, or to trick someone into believing you (Scottish/Irish English).

What does "kid on" mean?

2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

1 B2 idiomatic informal

(Scottish/Northern Irish) To pretend that something is true.

"She kidded on that she hadn't heard the news, but her face gave her away."

inseparable
2 B2 idiomatic informal

(Scottish/Northern Irish) To deceive someone into believing something false; to fool someone.

"Are you trying to kid me on, or do you actually believe that?"

inseparable
Usage tip

Strongly regional — typical of Scottish English and Northern Irish dialects. May be followed by a clause: 'kid on that...'. Outside these regions, most speakers will not recognise this usage. Also written as 'kidding on'.

Words that pair with "kid on"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

pretend claim believe that act fake

How to conjugate "kid on"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base
kid on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
kids on
he/she/it
Past simple
kided on
yesterday
Past participle
kided on
have + pp
-ing form
kiding on
continuous

Hear "kid on" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "kid on" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Other ways to say "kid on"

Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.

act as if bluff feign make out pretend put on

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