What Does "The Joke Is on Someone" Mean?
"The joke is on someone" is an English idiom indicating that someone has become the unwitting target or subject of a joke, prank, or deception.Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "the joke is on someone" used in a sentence:- He thought he was pulling a prank on his friends, but in the end, the joke was on him.
- She tried to fool her coworkers, but the joke was on her when they revealed they knew all along.
- Playing tricks on others can be fun, but sometimes the joke is on the prankster.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "The Joke Is on Someone" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
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