kid (redirected from kidder)

(all) joking aside and (all) kidding aside

being serious for a moment; in all seriousness. I know I laugh at him but, joking aside, he's a very clever scientist. I know I threatened to leave and go round the world, but, joking aside, I do need a vacation.

See also: aside, joke

handle someone with kid gloves

Fig. to be very careful with a touchy person. Bill has become so sensitive. You really have to handle him with kid gloves. You don't have to handle me with kid gloves. I can take it.

See also: glove, handle

I kid you not.

Inf. I am not kidding you.; I am not trying to fool you. Bill: Whose car is this? Sally: It's mine. It really is. I kid you not. "I kid you not," said Tom, glowing. "I outran the whole lot of them."

I'm not kidding.

I am telling the truth.; I am not trying to fool you. Mary: Those guys are all suspects in the robbery. Sue: No! They can't be! Mary: I'm not kidding! John (gesturing): The fish I caught was this big! Jane: I don't believe it! John: I'm not kidding!

kid someone about someone or something

to tease someone about someone or something. You wouldn't kid me about Jody, would you? Please don't kid me about my long hair!

kid around (with someone)

to tease and joke with someone. I like to kid around with John. We are great friends. Yes, John and I used to kid around a lot.

See also: around

kid's stuff

a very easy task. Climbing that hill is kid's stuff. Driving an automatic car is kid's stuff.

See also: stuff

like a kid with a new toy

Fig. very pleased; happily playing with something. Every time Bill gets a new gadget for his kitchen, he's like a kid with a new toy. Jane is absorbed in that computer. Just like a kid with a new toy.

See also: like, new, toy

new kid on the block 

1. Lit. a child who has just moved to a certain neighborhood. The new kid on the block turned out to be a really good baseball player.

2. Fig. the newest person in a group. I'm just the new kid on the block. I've only been working here for a month.

See also: block, new

No kidding! 

1. Inf. You are not kidding me, are you? (An expression of mild surprise.) Jane: I got elected vice president. Bill: No kidding! That's great!

2. Inf. Everyone already knows that! Did you just find that out? (Sarcastic.) Sue: It looks like taxes will be increasing. Tom: No kidding! What do you expect? Alice: I'm afraid I'm putting on a little weight. Jane: No kidding!

not a kid anymore

Fig. no longer in one's youth. You can't keep partying all weekend, every weekend. You're not a kid anymore. Kathy: Bill is just as wild as ever, I hear. Jane: Bill needs to realize that he's not a kid anymore.

See also: anymore

Who do you think you're kidding?

Inf. You aren't fooling anyone.; Surely, you do not think you can fool me, do you? Bill: I must pull down about eighty thou a year. Bob: You? Who do you think you're kidding? Mary: This carpet was made in Persia centuries ago. Tom: Who do you think you're kidding?

See also: think, who

You've got to be kidding!

Inf. This cannot be the truth. Surely you are kidding me! Bob: Sally is getting married. Did you hear? Mary: You've got to be kidding! Bill: I think I swallowed my gold tooth! Mother: You've got to be kidding!

See also: got

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a latchkey child/kid  (mainly American)

a child who is often in the house alone because both parents are at work My dad came home at seven in the evening and my mom only an hour earlier so I was a latchkey kid.

See also: child

a whizz-kid

a young person who is very clever and successful They've taken on some financial whizz-kid who's going to sort all their problems out.

be like a kid in a candy store  (American & Australian)

to be very happy and excited about the things around you, and often to react to them in a way which is silly and not controlled You should have seen him when they arrived. He was like a kid in a candy store.

See also: candy, like, store

handle/treat somebody with kid gloves

to be very polite or kind to someone who is important or easily upset because you do not want to make them angry or upset

Usage notes: Kid gloves are gloves made from very soft leather which would feel very soft if someone touched you with them.

Linda can be a very difficult woman - you've really got to handle her with kid gloves.

See also: glove, handle

kids' stuff  (British & Australian) also kid stuff (American)

an activity or piece of work that is very easy A five-mile bike ride? That's kids' stuff.

See also: stuff

the new kid on the block  (American & Australian informal)

someone who is new in a place or organization and has many things to learn about it Realizing I was the new kid on the block in this job, I was determined to prove myself.

See a whole new ball game, breathe life into, break new ground, turn over a new leaf

See also: block, new

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you have got to be kidding (spoken) also you must be kidding

I am very surprised and cannot believe you are serious You want me to drive into the city in this rain? You've got to be kidding.

See also: got, have

kid around

to joke with someone At the end of the show, the dancers kidded around with the audience and tried to get them to dance.

See also: around

no kidding (spoken)

really or honestly No kidding, there must have been at least twenty thousand people at the festival.

the new kid on the block

a recent arrival The Internet is still the new kid on the block in communications technologies.

See also: block, new

treat somebody with kid gloves also handle somebody with kid gloves

to deal with someone very gently or carefully While he treated writers with kid gloves, he was unpleasant to everyone else.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of kid gloves (gloves made of very soft, smooth leather)

See also: glove, treat