Expressing disbelief or skepticism about an unexpected statement.

To question the truthfulness of a surprising claim made by another person.

After hearing news that seems impossible (e.g., winning a lottery), meeting an outrageous request, or witnessing an improbable event.

Casual everyday conversation; informal settings among friends or peers; can appear in both spoken and written communication where tone allows for casual phrasing.

You're kidding

You're kidding

(can add) me – e.g., "You're kidding, right?" or "You're kidding me!"; can also be shortened to just the exclamation mark in informal speech.

• "No way!"
• "Are you serious?"
• "Really?"

• "You're joking!"

Using it in overly formal contexts where the speaker expects a literal answer; also mistakenly applying to statements perceived as humorous rather than unbelievable.

"No way!", "Get out of here!"

English speakers may confuse with other expressions like “you’re funny” or colloquial slang that imply amusement instead of disbelief. In languages without this exact idiom, learners might default to translating literally which can sound unnatural.

• Disbelief phrases: No way
• Get out
• You're having a laugh

The tone conveys both surprise and mild skepticism—often used playfully among acquaintances but can carry genuine incredulity when emphasizing doubt about serious claims.

Signals the speaker’s reaction: they are challenging the plausibility of what was said, prompting clarification or elaboration from the interlocutor.

When I heard he got a job at NASA in three days…!

This expression is often used to express disbelief or surprise when someone hears something they find hard to believe. It can be used in various contexts, from casual conversations to more formal settings, but it is most commonly used in informal conversations. It's important to note that the expression can be followed by 'me' to emphasize the disbelief, and it can also be shortened to just 'Kidding?' in informal speech.

Really? → You're kidding → You're pulling my leg