sick joke

Idioms  

1. An anecdote intended to be humorous but actually in very bad taste, as in His stories turn out to be sick jokes about people who are handicapped in some way. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

As he wrote in his 2018 memoir, “Siren Song”: “Whatever sick joke these guys were playing, they really meant it, and it was new and original. I loved it.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

Look, this has to be some sort of sick joke, no?

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2024

Rachel Harrison, national officer for the GMB union, described charging healthcare staff for parking as a "a sick joke", after they "risked their lives during the pandemic".

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2022

Surely it is a sick joke that will get cleared up when the men arrive?

From New York Times • Mar. 2, 2022

After the last few days, the toast felt like a sick joke.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros