kidding well

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kidding well" is not a standard expression in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used informally to imply that someone is joking effectively or in a good manner, but it is not commonly recognized. Example: "He has a knack for humor; he's always kidding well during our meetings."

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Actually, it was more like, "Are you kidding!!" Well, it seemed like a reasonable question to ask him.

The New York Times

No, no, I'm kidding (well, sort of) – it's having to go retrieve my car from wherever I left it the next day.

TechCrunch

"Do you think she may have been kidding?" "Well, I wasn't there.

Vice

In 2002 I got myself booked with the then-adorable Katie Couric on Today Show for "trendSpotting" and I told the people at Penguin-Putnam who thought I was kidding ("Well, let's see") --and wasn I wascheduleded they didn't bother to alert sales force, stores, or anyone.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"He took the kidding very well".

The New York Times

"No kids, well, none I know of".

The Guardian - Books

Kids – well, kids of all ages: beginners – don't have a nice, human way in.

The Guardian - Tech

"And to be a kid, well, obviously you wanted a parent.

The New York Times - Magazine

"More than that," said the teacher, Peter Ficano, "he was a nice kid, well mannered, clean cut.

The New York Times

We know that if we are educating our kids well, then they're going to be more competitive.

The New York Times

She was determined they had more hope than she did: "I raised my kids well, maybe too well".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's ability to joke, consider using more common alternatives like "joking effectively" or "having a good sense of humor" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "kidding well" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more widely accepted expressions to ensure your message is easily understood.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kidding well" functions primarily as a verb-adverb construction, where "kidding" is the verb, and "well" modifies it, describing the manner of the action. Ludwig indicates the phrase can be interpreted as joking effectively.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while grammatically acceptable, the phrase "kidding well" is not a standard expression. As Ludwig states, it may cause confusion. It's more appropriate for informal contexts, and clearer alternatives like "joking effectively" are recommended for formal or professional communication. Ludwig's analysis suggests that although found in some news and media, its usage is infrequent and might be better substituted with more common phrases for enhanced clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

joking effectively

Focuses on the effectiveness of the joke, rather than the act of joking itself.

teasing successfully

Emphasizes the success of the teasing, implying a positive outcome.

mocking good-naturedly

Highlights the good-natured aspect of mocking, suggesting a playful intention.

jesting appropriately

Stresses the appropriateness of the jesting, implying consideration for the context.

bantering skillfully

Highlights the skill involved in bantering, emphasizing the artful exchange.

quipping cleverly

Focuses on the cleverness of the quips, emphasizing the witty remarks.

playing pranks harmlessly

Emphasizes the harmless nature of the pranks, suggesting a lack of negative consequences.

fooling around playfully

Highlights the playful aspect of fooling around, suggesting a lighthearted intention.

joshing amiably

Stresses the amiable nature of the joshing, implying a friendly interaction.

ribbing gently

Emphasizes the gentle nature of the ribbing, suggesting a lack of harshness.

FAQs

What does "kidding well" mean?

The phrase "kidding well" isn't a standard idiom, but it generally means joking effectively or successfully. It implies that someone is good at making jokes or teasing in a way that's well-received.

Are there better alternatives to saying "kidding well"?

Yes, depending on the context, you could use phrases like "joking effectively", "teasing successfully", or "having a good sense of humor".

Is "kidding well" grammatically incorrect?

No, "kidding well" isn't grammatically incorrect, but it's not a common or widely recognized phrase. It might sound unusual to some speakers.

How can I use "kidding well" in a sentence?

While you can use "kidding well" in informal contexts, consider if a clearer alternative would be better. For example, instead of "He was kidding well," you could say "He was joking effectively" or "He had everyone laughing."