kid
(kɪd )
Word forms: kids , kidding , kidded
1. countable noun B2
You can refer to a child as a kid. [informal]
They've got three kids.
All the kids in my class could read.
Synonyms: child, girl, boy, baby
2. countable noun & vocative noun B2
Young people who are no longer children are sometimes referred to as kids. [informal]
There were gangs of kids on motorbikes roaming around.
That's a lot for a kid of 22 to cope with.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You can refer to your younger brother as your kid brother and your younger sister as your kid sister. [informal]
My kid sister woke up and started crying.
Synonyms: younger, little, baby
4. countable noun
A kid is a young goat.
5. verb [usually cont] B2
If you are kidding, you are saying something that is not really true, as a joke. [informal]
I'm not kidding, Frank. There's a cow out there, just standing around. [VERB]
I'm just kidding. [VERB]
Are you sure you're not kidding me? [VERB noun]
Synonyms: tease, joke, trick, fool
6. verb
If you kid someone, you tease them.
He liked to kid Ingrid a lot. [VERB noun]
He used to kid me about being chubby. [VERB noun + about]
7. verb
If people kid themselves, they allow themselves to believe something that is not true because they wish that it was true.
We're kidding ourselves, Bill. We're not winning, we're not even doing well. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
I could kid myself that you did this for me, but it would be a lie. [V pron-refl that]
8. no kidding convention
You can say 'No kidding' to emphasize that what you are saying is true, or that you mean it. [informal, emphasis]
I'm scared. No kidding, really.
9. no kidding? convention
You can say 'No kidding?' to show that you are interested or surprised when someone tells you something. [informal, feelings]
'We won.'—'No kidding?'
10. sb has got to be kidding/sb must be kidding phrase
You can say 'you've got to be kidding' or 'you must be kidding' to someone if they have said something that you think is ridiculous or completely untrue. [informal, feelings]
You've got to be kidding! I can't live here!
'He's a mild inoffensive man isn't he?'—'Oh you've gotta be kidding.'
11. who is sb kidding/who is sb trying to kid? phrase
You can say 'who is she kidding?' or 'who is he trying to kid?' if you think it is obvious that someone is not being sincere and does not mean what they say. [informal]
She played the role of a meek, innocent, shy girl. I don't know who she was trying to kid.
'Maybe tomorrow will be better,' I said, hanging up. 'Who am I kidding?' I told Wolfe. 'Tomorrow will be more of the same.'
Image of kid
Shutterstock
Idioms:
treat someone with kid gloves
to treat someone very carefully, for example because they are very important or because they are easily upset
Mr Sarbutts was treated as a VIP. Everybody was treating him with kid gloves.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
like a kid in a candy store [mainly US]
enjoying yourself far too much and not controlling your behaviour in any way. The usual British expression is like a child in a sweet shop.
A money manager in Chicago, he went on a buying binge and `felt like a kid in a candy store,' he recalls.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Collocations:
disadvantaged kids grown-up kids street kid underprivileged kids vulnerable kids
It provides education and support to disadvantaged kids by engaging them with sport.
The Sun (2013)
Some of the profits will help the Life Music Foundation, which gives music lessons for disadvantaged kids.
The Sun (2013)
He now teaches hairdressing to disadvantaged kids, while at the same time trying to help his own deeply troubled stepdaughter.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We are both divorced with grown-up kids.
The Sun (2014)
Our grown-up kids will be getting our grandchildren involved soon.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They built it themselves, as a sunny base where retirement could be enjoyed and their grown-up kids could spend time with them.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
People see street kids as vermin.
The Sun (2010)
After all, how could a street kid know so much?
The Sun (2009)
So, for the first time since about 1959, the moves on stage vaguely resembled what street kids might do today.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In 2018 I launched my own charity to help underprivileged kids.
The Sun (2016)
It will be used by underprivileged local kids.
The Sun (2016)
When I was 11, I was picked by a charity for underprivileged kids to be sent to a summer camp near Colchester.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
I just want vulnerable kids to be protected.
The Sun (2013)
It is not fair to do this to vulnerable kids.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Then we must vastly improve the way we safeguard vulnerable kids.
The Sun (2008)
Translations:
Chinese: 小孩, 开玩笑
Japanese: 子供, ヤギが子を産む