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Glite Dictionary
in fun

in fun

14 5.3
People say it as a joke and do not mean it seriously
  • idiom
  • Informal
: en broma
  • He made that comment just in fun, not to hurt anyone's feelings.

So comments like that probably just in fun.

Examples

  • Having watched multiple videos, it is quite obvious that this event was all in fun.

    Blog text (13)

  • But it's all in fun

    The Great Muppet Caper (1981)

  • And I think it was all in fun at that time anyway.

  • This has all been in fun

    Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003)

  • Okay, it's all in fun.

    Blood of Dracula (1957)

  • This is all in fun.

    Annie Oakley (1935)

  • But the kids will know, as they always have, that it's all in fun and not real.

    Blog text (12)

  • Sorry, dear, but it is all in fun.

    Blog text (32)

  • Koenig, who now has a book in the works, says it's all meant in fun.

    Blog text (6)

  • I'm sure it was all in fun, but at first I was a little taken aback!

    Blog text (13)

Synonyms

for fun
vsin fun
  • Informal
202 1.2

For enjoyment or as a joke

emphasizes joking or lack of seriousness rather than only seeking enjoyment
jokingly
vsin fun
26 2.0

Said or done as a joke and not meant seriously

marks plain lack of seriousness without extra playfulness
tongue-in-cheek
vsin fun
  • Informal
13 6.8

Joking and not meant to be taken seriously

matches non serious intent but highlights irony rather than plain joking
in jest
vsin fun
  • Informal
10 6.6

In a joking way not meant to be taken seriously

is the basic phrase meaning not meant to be taken seriously
humorously
vsin fun
5 3.3

In a funny way that makes people laugh

focuses on lack of seriousness but not necessarily only to cause laughter
for shits and giggles
vsin fun
  • Offensive
2 9.9

Just for fun and not for any serious reason

conveys lack of seriousness but carries coarse, very informal tone
facetiously
vsin fun
2 8.1

In a joking way that is not meant to be taken seriously

is not just non serious but often carries biting or critical tone
for grins
vsin fun
  • Slang
2 9.3

For fun, not for something serious

marks non serious action but is lighter and more casual in purpose
kiddingly
vsin fun
1 3.6

To say or do something in a joking way without being serious

expresses lack of seriousness but may also be less playful and neutral
all in jest
vsin fun
1 6.7

Said or done as a joke and not meant to be serious

clarifies lack of seriousness rather than expressing a real claim or harm
jestingly
vsin fun
1 6.4

In a joking way that is not serious

focuses on not serious intent without the playful teasing element

Antonyms

seriously
∞ 1.6

In a way that shows you mean what you say

How Serious

serious
∞ 1.4
tongue-in-cheek
  • Informal
10 7.4
in fun
  • Informal
14 5.3

Surface Forms

in fun positive

Morphology

in + fun

The meaning 'intended as a joke' is directly derivable from combining 'in' (indicating manner or state) with 'fun' (amusement); together they signal doing something in a playful way. This compositional pattern (manner preposition + noun indicating amusement) is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

In fun comes from the simple image of being in a mood of fun: if you say or do something while you are in that mood, you are playing or joking rather than being serious. That's why it means 'as a joke' or 'not meant to be taken seriously'.