In an attempt to backpedal from saying something shady or rude, one might say they're "mostly kidding." What this really means is they, or some part of them, actually means what they said but doesn't want the directed person to know it.
-"Oh my gosh, your laugh sounds like a crow being strangled!"
-"Excuse me?"
-"Don't sound so offended. I was mostly kidding."
-"Excuse me?"
-"Don't sound so offended. I was mostly kidding."
by Sashay Away April 19, 2021