Definition

1. Verb:
   • To tease or joke with someone in a playful, good-natured manner: "Josh" means to engage in lighthearted banter or gentle mockery without intending to hurt feelings. It implies a friendly, humorous interaction.
   • To make playful fun of: It involves making jokes or humorous remarks about someone, typically in a way that is understood and accepted by all parties as friendly.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • The friends would often josh each other about their favorite sports teams.
  • Don't take it seriously; he's just joshing you.
  • They spent the afternoon joshing around, telling old stories and laughing.

Advanced Usage

• "to josh someone about something": to tease someone specifically concerning a particular topic.
  • His coworkers joshed him about his new, brightly colored tie.
• "just joshing": a phrase used to clarify that a previous statement was meant as a joke and not to be taken seriously.
  • "You really thought I forgot your birthday? I'm just joshing—here's your present!"

Variants and Related Words

• Josh (noun, informal): An instance of playful teasing.
  • It was all in good-natured josh.
• Joshing (noun/gerund): The act of teasing playfully.
  • The constant joshing was a sign of their close friendship.

Synonyms

• Kid: To tease or joke with someone.
• Rib: To make good-natured fun of someone.
• Banter: To exchange remarks in a good-humored, teasing way.
• Tease: To make fun of or attempt to provoke in a playful way.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases

• Josh around: To engage in playful joking or teasing, often without a specific target.
  • We weren't working, just joshing around in the break room.

Related Idioms

• All in good fun/josh: Used to emphasize that teasing or mockery is meant harmlessly.
  • I know they were making jokes about my cooking, but it was all in good josh.

Verb

1. be silly or tease one another
   • After we relaxed, we just kidded around