crack a joke

Idioms

Make a joke, say something humorous, as in You can count on Grandpa to crack a joke on every occasion. This expression uses the verb to crack in the now obsolete sense of “briskly pronounce” or “boast.” [Early 1700s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"I also saw his humour -- he was a very funny man. He would suddenly crack a joke at the most unexpected moment".

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

As we talked, surrounded by tough-looking men in leather jackets, boots and jeans, I attempted to crack a joke that fell flat.

From BBC • Jan. 17, 2026

He’s quick to crack a joke while describing his often-tenuous living situations.

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2024

He thought he looked sharp until an older man stopped to crack a joke.

From New York Times • Sep. 6, 2023

Why can Denny crack a joke and it sounds fine, and then I open my mouth and it sounds mean?

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023