The phrase “Just kidding…but not really” is the ultimate life hack. It is how we sneak in hard truths while keeping an escape route open. It’s the verbal equivalent of serving someone a spicy dish and then casually saying, “Oh, by the way, that is Ghost Pepper.” It allows us to drop truth bombs, quickly follow up with “Haha, just kidding!” and then watch the person awkwardly wonder if we actually were. Spoiler alert: We weren’t.
Some of life’s best moments happen on the fine line between humor and brutal truth. It’s when you tell your friend, “Wow, you’re really good at making terrible choices!” and they laugh—not only because it’s funny but also because they just got back with their ex again. Or when someone says, “You’re kind of a workaholic, huh?” and you chuckle, only to later stare at your computer screen at midnight, whispering, “On no.”
It’s the same magic that allows comedians to make a whole audience laugh while also making them profoundly uncomfortable. For example, when someone jokes about how expensive everything is, everyone laughs and mentally calculates their rent, groceries, and soul-crushing electricity bill.
And let’s not forget family members – they love this technique. “Oh wow, you’re going for another piece of cake? Haha, just kidding!” Are you Puppy Chacha? Are you?
“Just kidding…but not really,” is the unofficial slogan of people who want to tell the truth while keeping their social lives intact. It’s the perfect tool for delivering reality checks with a side of plausible deniability.
This phrase also serves as an emotional safety net. You can spill your deepest feelings and immediately take them back if things get too real. “I love you. Just kidding!” Wait, what? Or during a heart-to-heart with a friend: “You’re basically the only reason I stay sane…haha, just kidding!” Except you weren’t. Not even a little bit.
The beauty of this phrase – “Just kidding” – is that it keeps everyone on their toes. Is it a joke? Is it a cry for help? Is it a philosophical commentary on life? Who knows! But one thing’s for sure- if someone ever tells you, ” Just kidding…but not really,” take a moment to think. Because somewhere in that joke, a truth is patiently waiting to be acknowledged.
I am participating in the #BlogchatterA2Z, and this is my post on the theme ‘Of Epiphanies & Eyerolls‘.
Only a few days ago I watched the movie ‘Premalu’ and there, the TL makes poor jokes and brings everyone to a false position, and then says, “JK”, means just kidding! Your post reminded me of that guy.
The fine line between humour and hard truths sums this up perfectly!
Not everyone can wield this tool effectively though. I certainly can’t! :p
I might have used this technique quite a few times.
If I ever drop truth bombs, I gauge the reaction of the person, If I sense any discomfort, I immediately switch to “aare, just kidding, hahaha.” So totally relatable post!
Oh man.. this one was more introspective than the others so far… made me smile nonetheless
But yeah that just kidding always makes me wary because something mean is always garbed within the sentence that comes with that phrase
It’s frustrating how many instances of irritating ‘just kidding’ remarks exist. I struggle to understand why these annoying souls consistently seek to provoke others.
It’s fascinating how we often use humor as a shield to express uncomfortable truths. Your examples, like the friend commenting on someone’s choices or the family member’s sly remark about cake, perfectly illustrate this phenomenon. I’ve found myself both on the giving and receiving end of such “jokes,” and it’s enlightening to see them analyzed so thoughtfully. Your writing strikes a perfect balance between wit and depth, making complex social dynamics accessible and relatable. This piece has made me more aware of the subtle ways we communicate and the power of words cloaked in humor.
Humour often hides the most profound truth. So well written, Mayuri!