An American friend asked what "taking the piss" means. As a demonstration, here I am using "taking the piss" in the letters pages of a respectable Australian broadsheet newpaper, talking about the 2008 Catholic "World Youth Day"...
Paul Borg and Barry Oakley (Letters, July 8) are worried about the various reactions to World Youth Day. The Prime Minister wants us to show respect to the Pope. I don't know what the Catholic Church and the politicians were thinking when they decided Sydney would be a great place for this event, but they should have realised Australians are not an inherently respectful people. There is so much fun to be poked at this church, this religion, this Government, this event.
How can anyone seriously expect Australians to resist the temptation? We're not whingeing, we're not complaining; we are simply taking the piss. Childish, sure, but it's better than most of the alternative responses.
Lee Borkman
9th July 2008
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