the joke is on someone
Someone is the butt of a joke or is experiencing a negative outcome, especially if that person was trying to make someone else the butt of the joke or subject them to the negative outcome.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He tried to trick me, but the joke is on him.”
“She hid my keys to be funny, but the joke is on her because now she is late for work too.”
“After the prankster accidentally locked himself inside the room he intended for his victim, he realized with dismay that the joke is on him.”
- 01
as if someone owns the place
Alternative form of like someone owns the place.
- 02
bad joke
A situation that is badly planned, or illogical.
- 03
beat someone round the ears
To beat (a person) with blows about the head.
- 04
bless someone with
To give or bestow, as a gift from God.
- 05
bring someone to their knees
To defeat and make submit to orders.
- 06
call someone every name in the book
To call someone many abusive names.
- 07
call someone everything but a child of God
To call someone many abusive names.
- 08
catch someone napping
To take advantage of someone's inattention.
Last updated August 10, 2026