no joke

Idioms and Phrases

Also, no laughing matter . A serious issue, as in Missing the last flight out was no joke , or This outbreak of flu is no laughing matter . The first term dates from about 1800, and the variant from the second half of the 1500s.

Example Sentences

“And guess what, and by the way, the fact of the matter is, no joke, I’m being serious, right now,” said Carvey as Biden, and it was perfect.

From Los Angeles Times

Perhaps because it was no joke at all, and he meant that literally.

From Slate

“Hard Miles” is set in Grand Canyon Village, 6,000-something feet above sea level, and these roads are no joke.

From Salon

No joke — a commercial describes her as such, which isn’t that far off from how the book portrays other female characters.

From Salon

“A $73-billion deficit is no joke,” Gallagher said.

From Los Angeles Times