kidder

IPA/ˈkɪd.ər/
KK[kˈɪdɚ]IPA/ˈkɪd.ɚ/

kidder — noun

  • kiddersingular
  • kiddersplural

1. a person who enjoys saying things that are not true or playing small tricks on p

1.nounB1
Definition

a person who enjoys saying things that are not true or playing small tricks on people, just to make others laugh or react in surprise

Example

Fumi is such a kidder — she told Ibrahim the office was closed tomorrow just to watch his face fall.

Don't believe every story Vikram tells at dinner; he is a real kidder who loves tall tales.

collocation: real kidder

Common collocations
  • real kidder
  • gentle kidder
  • such a kidder
  • a bit of a kidder
Synonyms
  • joker

    more general and common; a joker can also mean someone who is not serious at all, while a kidder specifically plays with the truth playfully

  • prankster

    focuses on practical jokes or physical tricks rather than playful lies; more mischievous in tone

  • tease

    emphasises playful mockery or gentle making-fun, not necessarily telling untruths or setting up tricks

Antonyms
  • killjoy

    someone who spoils other people's fun; the opposite of someone who creates playful amusement

Common Mistakes

Minh is a kidder' (meaning Minh is young).
Minh is a kidder' (meaning Minh likes to joke).
'kidder' does NOT mean 'young person'; it means 'someone who jokes playfully.' The only sense that relates to youth is used strictly as a direct address in UK English.

2. used in some parts of the UK, especially northern England and Scotland, as an in

2.nounB2
Definition

used in some parts of the UK, especially northern England and Scotland, as an informal and friendly way to speak to a child or young person you know well, similar to 'mate' or 'pal'

Example

'Cheer up, kidder,' said Hana to her younger brother after he lost the game.

direct address: 'kidder' at the end of a friendly sentence

The old man smiled at the boy and said, 'You dropped your glove, kidder.'

Synonyms
  • mate

    wider UK usage; can be used with people of any age, not just children, and in many more contexts

  • pal

    friendly term that can be used with children, but less regionally specific than 'kidder'

  • sonny

    also used to address a young boy but can sound old-fashioned or condescending; 'kidder' is warmer

Usage Note

Common in northern England and Scotland. The speaker must know the child or young person well — using 'kidder' with a stranger's child would sound odd. This is a term of warmth and familiarity, not a general label for young people.

Common Mistakes

That kidder over there is my neighbour's son.
That young lad over there is my neighbour's son.
'kidder' as a friendly address is only used directly TO someone, not as a label for them in the third person.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three words describe someone who creates playful amusement, but they differ in focus. A joker (very common, neutral register) is anyone who makes jokes — the term covers everything from a friend who tells funny stories to a professional comedian. A kidder specifically plays with the truth in a light-hearted way, saying things that are not true to get a reaction. A prankster (less common, slightly more playful) sets up practical jokes or physical tricks — hiding someone's keys, putting a fake spider in a drawer. A tease (common, informal) makes gentle fun of people through words, often pointing out something about them in a joking way. For example, a kidder might say 'Your train has been cancelled' just to see your face; a prankster might swap the sugar and salt; a tease might say 'Nice hair today — did you forget a comb?'

joker ↗prankstertease

Common collocations

Phrases

  • a bit of a kidder
  • such a kidder

Etymology

Englishuncertain origin

Kidder comes from the verb 'kid', meaning 'to joke or deceive playfully', which first appeared in English in the early 1800s. The origin of this verb is uncertain — it may come from the earlier noun 'kid' (child), the idea being that treating someone like a child by telling them playful lies. The suffix '-er' (one who does something) turns the verb into a noun for a person who kids.