- Said immediately after making a statement to indicate that it was not serious, meant humorously, or shouldn't be taken literally.
- Used to backtrack from a potentially offensive, controversial, or unbelievable statement.
Explanation
Origin
- Kid meaning to tease or fool playfully dates back to the 19th century. Kidding is the present participle used idiomatically.
- Joke meaning something said or done to provoke laughter is much older (17th century). Joking is its present participle.
- These phrases became common conversational softeners or clarifications in the 20th century.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Nah, I'm playing. / I'm just playing.
- I'm messing with you. / Just messin'.
- Psyche! (Dated, but understood)
- JK / jk (Common online/texting abbreviation)
- lol jk (Adding laughter indication online)
Milder/More Formal:
- I wasn't being serious.
- That was meant humorously.
- Please don't take that literally.
(No common vulgar alternatives that specifically mean I was joking, though swearing might accompany the relief or annoyance in the reaction.)
Situational Appropriateness
- Mostly informal. Suitable among friends, family, and often colleagues in casual settings.
- Use with caution in formal or professional contexts. A poorly timed or inappropriate joke followed by just kidding can still seem unprofessional or offensive. It doesn't always erase the impact of the initial statement.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- If said too late or without clear intonation/context, the listener might have already reacted negatively to the initial statement.
- Some people use just kidding to soften genuinely mean or critical statements (Schrödinger's Douchebag making an offensive statement and deciding if it was a joke based on the reaction). Non-native speakers might not recognize this manipulative tactic.
Examples
- I'm going to quit my job and become a pirate! ... Just kidding.
- Your new haircut looks terrible! ... Kidding! Kidding! It looks great.
- We're cancelling the project. ... Only joking, we just need more time.
- Person A: Did you really eat the whole cake? Person B: Yeah, every crumb! ... Joking, of course.
Dialogue
Sarah: I accidentally deleted all the files!
Mark: WHAT?! You're kidding!
Sarah: Just kidding! They're all backed up safely.
Mark: Oh my god, Sarah! Don't do that!
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Decided to dye my hair neon green! ... jk jk (just kidding), maybe just some highlights. 😉 #HairDecisions
- Instagram Caption: Sold my car and bought a unicycle. ... Kidding! But wouldn't that be a story? 😂 #AprilFoolsMaybe
- Comment Reply: User A: You should run for president! User B: Haha maybe I will! ... Only joking, don't worry world.
Response Patterns
- Relief: Oh, thank goodness! / You had me worried! / Phew!
- Playful annoyance: Don't scare me like that! / You jerk! (Said playfully)
- Acknowledgment: Haha, very funny. / I figured. / Okay, okay.
- Sometimes, if the joke fell flat or was offensive: Silence, or a neutral Okay.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing [Just] kidding:
- The listener might laugh and express relief (Whew! You totally had me going!).
- They might ask, Seriously though, what's the real story? if the joke replaced actual information.
- They might playfully retaliate with their own joke.
The speaker, after saying [Just] kidding, usually clarifies the real situation or reiterates that the previous statement was indeed false.
Conversation Starter
- No. Always follows a statement that needs clarification as non-serious.
Intonation
- Usually said quickly and lightly, often with a slight laugh or smile.
- Intonation often rises slightly at the end.
- Emphasis can be on Just or Only (JUST kidding, ONLY joking) or on the verb itself (KIDDING!).
Generation Differences
- Very common across most generations. Psyche! is more associated with Gen X / older Millennials.
Regional Variations
- Standard usage across major English-speaking regions.