make fun of

Recorded 1737. Preserves the older meaning of fun, from Middle English fon, fonne (“foolish, simple, silly”), fun (c. 1700) meaning "a cheat, trick, hoax", from a verb fun meaning "to cheat, trick" (1680s).

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make fun of (third-person singular simple present makes fun of, present participle making fun of, simple past and past participle made fun of)

1. (idiomatic, informal) To tease, ridicule or make jokes about, generally in a pejorative manner.

   Synonyms: bust on, deride, make sport of, poke fun at; see also Thesaurus:mock

   Please stop making fun of your sister and just help her!

• make light of