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When pulling a prank on someone or telling a joke that could come across as offensive, usually we say "take a joke" or something along those lines. What is the expression for this in German?

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Do you say that in advance? Could you also give an example? – 0x6d64 Jul 28 '12 at 10:58

2 Answers

up vote 5 down vote accepted

insertJoke. Das ist nicht ernst gemeint, inserName!

As 0x6d64 points out, the following two expressions are rather used when you say something you are serious about, but personally I think it is not wrong to use them in this case, too.

Nichts für ungut insertName, aber ... insertJoke.

Nimm es mir nicht übel insertName, aber ... insertJoke.

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I downvoted this answer, because IMO "Nichts für ungut" and "Nimm es mir nicht übel" are not something you say before you make a joke, but before you say something which you are serious about. Example: Nichts für ungut, aber ich glaube in dieser Sache hast du ausnahmsweise Unrecht funny how this fits here ;-) – 0x6d64 Jul 28 '12 at 10:57
I agree with you on that you use these two expressions rather in serious issues, but I think it is OK to use them before telling a joke, too. – efie Jul 31 '12 at 7:35
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I don't know if I'm completely off track here, but if you would tell a joke this way I think that I might be irritated. On the other hand: I also don't have a good way to signal "joke ahead" in German, and I also don't get the concept of getting away with offensive jokes just by stating "I know, it is offensive but relax, it's just a joke". But this topic about offending other/feeling offended can lead to a lengthy discussion, which I don't like to take part here. – 0x6d64 Jul 31 '12 at 11:02
up vote 4 down vote

I would suggest Spaß verstehen.

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