poke fun

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poke fun (third-person singular simple present pokes fun, present participle poking fun, simple past and past participle poked fun)

1. To subject someone to laughter or ridicule. [+ at (object)]
   • 1915, L. Frank Baum, chapter 5, in The Scarecrow of Oz:

     Trot laughed, but Cap'n Bill thought the little man was poking fun at him and so he scowled upon Pessim in a way that showed he was angry.

• make fun of
• See also Thesaurus:ridicule