estava apenas brincando

was just joking

→ estar

phrase Rare #33,639

was just joking Used to clarify that something said or done was not serious. The subject is often omitted; the context determines whether it means “I was just joking,” “he was just joking,” or “she was just joking.”

PO: Não fique chateado — eu estava apenas brincando.

EN: Don't get upset—I was just joking.

Tom pensou que Mary estava apenas brincando, mas ela não estava.

Tom thought Mary was just joking, but she wasn’t.

Eu pensei que Tom estava apenas brincando.

I thought Tom was just joking.

Pensei que Tom estava apenas brincando.

I thought Tom was just joking.

Estava apenas brincando.

I was just kidding.

— Suspiria (1977)

Eu estava apenas brincando com você.

I was just kidding with you.

Eu estava apenas brincando.

I was just kidding.

— Meu Amigo Ivan Lapshin (1985)