crack a joke

1. 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

When people of power are too scared to even crack a joke, what does that mean for the average person?

From Los Angeles Times

So imagine, if you can, enduring everything she has and being able to crack a joke that "Studying abroad will change your life."

From Salon

He’d tell a related story, crack a joke and complain about his golf game.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

Mallory was named “most serious player” although she also knows when to crack a joke to relieve the tension in a tight match.

From Los Angeles Times