# take a joke

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/take-a-joke
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To accept a joke at one's expense.

## Examples

- You need to learn how to take a joke.
- He got angry when his friends teased him, even though he should have just taken a joke.
- While she initially bristled at the playful mockery, she eventually learned to take a joke with grace and good humor.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.