3 N‑COUNT A joke is something untrue that you tell another person in order to amuse yourself. □ It was probably just a joke to them, but it wasn't funny to me.
4 VERB If you joke , you tell someone something that is not true in order to amuse yourself. □ [V ] Don't get defensive, Charlie. I was only joking. □ [V with quote] 'I wish you made as much fuss of me,' Vera joked.
5 N‑SING If you say that something or someone is a joke , you think they are ridiculous and do not deserve respect. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ It's ridiculous, it's pathetic, it's a joke.
6 PHRASE If you say that an annoying or worrying situation is beyond a joke , you are emphasizing that it is worse than you think is fair or reasonable. [BRIT , EMPHASIS ] □ I'm not afraid of a fair fight but this is beginning to get beyond a joke.
7 PHRASE If you make a joke of something, you laugh at it even though it is in fact rather serious or sad. □ I wish I had your courage, Michael, to make a joke of it like that.
8 PHRASE If you describe a situation as no joke , you are emphasizing that it is very difficult or unpleasant. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ Two hours on a bus is no joke, is it?
9 PHRASE If you say that the joke is on a particular person, you mean that they have been made to look very foolish by something. □ 'For once,' he said, 'the joke's on me. And it's not very funny.'
10 PHRASE If you say that someone cannot take a joke , you are criticizing them for getting upset or angry at something you think is funny. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ 'What's the matter with you, Simon?' Curly said. 'Can't you take a joke?'
11 CONVENTION You say you're joking or you must be joking to someone when they have just told you something that is so surprising or unreasonable that you find it difficult to believe. [SPOKEN , FEELINGS ] □ One hundred and forty quid for a pair of headphones, you've got to be joking!
jok|er /dʒoʊ kə r / (jokers )
1 N‑COUNT Someone who is a joker likes making jokes or doing amusing things. □ He is, by nature, a joker, a witty man with a sense of fun.
2 N‑COUNT The joker in a pack of playing cards is the card which does not belong to any of the four suits.
3 N‑COUNT You can call someone a joker if you think they are behaving in a stupid or dangerous way. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ Keep your eye on these jokers, you never know what they will come up with.
4 PHRASE If you describe someone or something as the joker in the pack , you mean that they are different from the other people or things in their group, and can be unpredictable.
jok|ey /dʒoʊ ki/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If someone behaves in a jokey way, they do things in a way that is intended to be amusing, rather than serious. [INFORMAL ] □ Bruno has not got his younger brother's jokey manner.
jok|ing|ly /dʒoʊ k I ŋli/ ADV [ADV with v] If you say or do something jokingly , you say or do it with the intention of amusing someone, rather than with any serious meaning or intention. □ Sarah jokingly called her 'my monster'.
jol|lity /dʒɒ l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Jollity is cheerful behaviour. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ [+ of ] …the singing and jollity of the celebration.
jol|ly /dʒɒ li/ (jollier , jolliest )
1 ADJ Someone who is jolly is happy and cheerful in their appearance or behaviour. □ She was a jolly, kindhearted woman.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A jolly event is lively and enjoyable. □ She had a very jolly time in Korea.
3 ADV [ADV adj/adv] Jolly is sometimes used to emphasize an adjective or adverb. [BRIT , INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED , EMPHASIS ] □ It was jolly hard work, but I loved it.
jolt /dʒoʊ lt/ (jolts , jolting , jolted )
1 VERB If something jolts or if something jolts it, it moves suddenly and quite violently. □ [V ] The wagon jolted again. □ [V prep] The train jolted into motion. □ [V n] They were working frantically in the fear that an aftershock would jolt the house again. ● N‑COUNT Jolt is also a noun. □ We were worried that one tiny jolt could worsen her injuries.
2 VERB If something jolts someone, it gives them an unpleasant surprise or shock. □ [V n] A stinging slap across the face jolted her. [Also V n prep, V n adj] ● N‑COUNT Jolt is also a noun. □ The campaign came at a time when America needed such a jolt.
Joneses /dʒoʊ nz I z/ also Jones PHRASE If you say that someone is keeping up with the Joneses , you mean that they are doing something in order to show that they have as much money as other people, rather than because they really want to do it. □ Many people were holding down three jobs just to keep up with the Joneses.
Jor|da|nian /dʒɔː r de I niən/ (Jordanians )
1 ADJ Jordanian means belonging or relating to the country of Jordan, or to its people or culture.
2 N‑COUNT A Jordanian is a Jordanian citizen, or a person of Jordanian origin.
joss stick /dʒɒ s st I k/ (joss sticks ) N‑COUNT A joss stick is a thin stick covered with a substance that burns very slowly and smells pleasant.
jos|tle /dʒɒ s ə l/ (jostles , jostling , jostled )
1 VERB If people jostle you, they bump against you or push you in a way that annoys you, usually because you are in a crowd and they are trying to get past you. □ [V n] You get 2,000 people jostling each other and bumping into furniture. □ [V prep/adv] We spent an hour jostling with the crowds as we did our shopping. □ [V to-inf] She was cheered and clapped by tourists who jostled to see her. [Also V n prep/adv]
2 VERB If people or things are jostling for something such as attention or a reward, they are competing with other people or things in order to get it. □ [V + for ] …the contenders who have been jostling for the top job.