joke

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 something that you say or do to make people laugh, for example a funny story that you tell: I can't tell jokes. * She's always cracking jokes. * They often make jokes at each other's expense. * I didn't get the joke (= understand it). * I wish he wouldn't tell dirty jokes (= about sex). * I only did it as a joke (= it was not meant seriously). seealsoIN-JOKE, PRACTICALJOKE 2 [sing.] (informal) a person, thing or situation that is ridiculous or annoying and cannot be taken seriously: This latest pay offer is a joke. seealsoJOCULAR IDIOMS be / get beyond a joke to become annoying and no longer acceptable: His teasing is getting beyond a joke. be no joke to be difficult or unpleasant: It's no joke trying to find a job these days. the joke's on sb (informal) used to say that sb who tried to make another person look ridiculous now looks ridiculous instead make a joke of sth to laugh about sth that is serious or should be taken seriously take a joke to be able to laugh at a joke against yourself: The trouble with Paula is she can't take a joke. verb ~ (with sb) (about sth) 1 to say sth to make people laugh; to tell a funny story: [V] She was laughing and joking with the children. * They often joked about all the things that could go wrong. * [Vspeech] 'I cooked it myself, so be careful!' he joked. 2 to say sth that is not true because you think it is funny: [V] I didn't mean that-I was only joking. * [Vthat] She joked that she only loved him for his money. IDIOMS joking apart / aside (BrE) used to show that you are now being serious after you have said sth funny you're joking