No laughing matter Meaning in English
expression
NOH LAF-ing MAT-er
noh LAAF-ing MAT-uh
Definition
If something is 'no laughing matter', it is very serious and should not be treated as a joke.
Usage & Nuances
This is a semi-formal or conversational idiom. Often used to stress that something is serious when others might joke. Typically follows 'is', 'was', or 'this is'. Can describe problems, situations, or issues.
Spanish: nada de broma - algo serioPortuguese (BR): assunto sério - não é brincadeiraPortuguese (PT): assunto sério - não é brincadeiraChinese (Simplified): 不是开玩笑的事 - 严肃的事情Chinese (Traditional): 不是開玩笑的事 - 嚴肅的事情Hindi: मज़ाक की बात नहीं - गंभीर मामलाArabic: أمر جدي - ليس مزحةBengali: মজা করার বিষয় নয় - গুরুতর ব্যাপারRussian: не шутка - серьёзное делоJapanese: 笑いごとではない - 冗談では済まないことVietnamese: không phải chuyện đùa - chuyện nghiêm trọngKorean: 농담이 아닌 일 - 장난이 아니다Turkish: şaka değil - ciddi bir meseleUrdu: مزاق کی بات نہیں - سنجیدہ معاملہIndonesian: bukan lelucon - bukan perkara main-main
Example Sentences
Losing your passport in a foreign country is no laughing matter.
basic
Cheating on exams is no laughing matter.
basic
Getting sick during a pandemic is no laughing matter.
basic
Trust me, food allergies are no laughing matter if you’ve ever had an attack.
natural
When your data gets stolen, you realize cybersecurity is no laughing matter.
natural
This heat wave is no laughing matter—people are getting hospitalized.
natural