Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

the joke is on someone

idiom

/ðə dʒoʊk ɪz ɑn ˈsʌmwʌn/

Definition

A phrase used to indicate that someone is the target of humor or ridicule, often unaware that they are being laughed at.

Examples

When he tried to prank his friends, he ended up falling into his own trap; the joke was on him.
She thought she was being clever at the office party, but really, the joke was on her when everyone else laughed at her misunderstanding.
He teased his sibling about their bad luck, but little did he know, the joke was on him when he lost the game.

Meaning

This expression suggests that someone has been made a fool of, typically through a situation where the intended humor backfires on them, leaving them in a less than favorable position.