Idiom idiom
but seriously folks
Meaning
Used to redirect attention to immediately preceding a failed attempt at humor.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“That joke was bad, but seriously folks, let us talk about the plan.”
“I know my impression of the boss was terrible, but seriously folks, we need to focus on the budget now.”
“After the audience failed to laugh at his clumsy opening remark, he cleared his throat and said, but seriously folks, the situation we face today is quite grave.”
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Last updated August 10, 2026