kid oneself Definition

kid²
verb kidded, kidding

colloq:
1. To fool or deceive them, especially light-heartedly or in fun.

Thesaurus: tease, pull someone's leg (slang), hoax, hoodwink, jest, delude, dupe, trick, put one over on (slang), josh, ridicule, gull, con.
intr
2. To bluff; to pretend.

Derivative: kidder
noun

Derivative: kiddingly
adverb

Idiom: kid oneself

To fool oneself about something. See also kid-on.
Example: kidding himself all was well

Etymology: 19c: perhaps from kid¹.