Welcome to our fun journey through the world of idioms! Today, we’re exploring phrases that include the word “joke” or are themed around humor. These expressions make our language more colorful and can be used in various situations. Even kids will find it easy to understand how these idioms add a playful twist to our everyday conversations.
Joke Idioms
Here are 20 joke idioms in English.
1. No joke
Meaning: Really serious or true.
Example: Getting a driver’s license is no joke.
2. Joke falls flat
Meaning: Joke that is not funny.
Example: His punchline missed, and the joke fell flat.
3. Make a joke of
Meaning: Not take seriously.
Example: He made a joke of the situation.
4. Take a joke
Meaning: Respond humorously or lightly.
Example: She can really take a joke well.
5. The joke’s on you
Meaning: Trick has backfired on you.
Example: Tried to scare him? The joke’s on you!
6. Inside joke
Meaning: Humor understood by a few.
Example: They laughed at their inside joke.
7. Sick joke
Meaning: Highly inappropriate joke.
Example: That was really a sick joke.
8. Practical joke
Meaning: Trick played on someone.
Example: He planned a practical joke on her.
9. Standing joke
Meaning: A long-running humorous story.
Example: Their rivalry became a standing joke.
10. Joke shop
Meaning: Store selling joke items.
Example: Bought a whoopee cushion at the joke shop.
11. Joke around
Meaning: Act in a humorous way.
Example: Stop joking around during class!
12. Joke of the year
Meaning: Remarkably silly or stupid act.
Example: His stunt was the joke of the year.
13. That’s a joke
Meaning: That’s unbelievable or ridiculous.
Example: A snowstorm in July? That’s a joke!
14. Bad joke
Meaning: Poorly received humor.
Example: That was a really bad joke.
15. Just a joke
Meaning: Not to be taken seriously.
Example: Relax, it was just a joke!
16. Your joke
Meaning: Your attempt at humor.
Example: Your joke didn’t quite land.
17. Old joke
Meaning: Well-known, repeated humor.
Example: He’s still telling that old joke?
18. Joke is on me
Meaning: I’ve been made a fool of.
Example: I forgot my own birthday, the joke is on me!
19. Kill the joke
Meaning: Overuse a joke too much.
Example: Stop repeating, you’ll kill the joke.
20. Running joke
Meaning: Joke repeatedly used in different situations.
Example: Their constant lateness is a running joke.
